Brick driveways are beautiful and usually long lasting. However, bricks can become damaged over the years and will need repair. The average homeowner can do this job without much time taken to replace the damaged brick. Resist the urge to break the brick to remove it more easily, because you may damage the surrounding bricks. Also, it is better cosmetically to replace the brick instead of just patching it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Find a brick to match the bricks in your driveway. If you cannot obtain a matching brick, then you can do a few things to make the replaced brick less obvious. If the brick only has a small crack on the top side that shows, then turn the brick over and use the other side. If the replacement brick is too dark in color, brush some milk over all the sides and let the brick dry before use. The color will lighten. If your brick is too light, brush some mud or ash over the brick surface to darken the color.
2. Remove the damaged brick. If the brick is loose, simply pull it up with your hands. Sometimes the damaged bricks are still solid in the driveway design and you can remove them with a drill. With a small bit, drill holes into the surrounding mortar, being careful not to damage the surrounding bricks. This usually causes the mortar to crumble, making the brick easy to remove. If the brick still doesn't give, then use a chisel to remove it.
3. Clean out the area, removing any loose mortar. Be careful not to damage any of the surrounding bricks. Use a wire brush and sweep out the debris.
4. Mix a test batch of mortar according to manufacturer's directions and place some on a piece of corrugated cardboard. Check the color of the dry mortar. You may have to add mortar coloring so it will match that of the existing driveway.
5. Spread mortar no more than 1/8-inch thick in the hole where the brick will sit, using a trowel.
6. Fill a spray bottle with water and spray the bottom side of the brick.
7. Spread mortar with a trowel over the sides of the brick. Make the mortar as thick as the corresponding bricks. Don't worry if you have too much or too little, as any excess will squeeze out, and you can always add more mortar if necessary.
8. Place the brick into the hole and push it down firmly until it is the same height as the other bricks in the driveway.
9. Check to make sure you have enough mortar. If you need more, add it in with the trowel. If you have too much, scrape the excess away with the trowel. With a damp cloth, wipe away any mortar that might have smeared onto the bricks.
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Tags: damage surrounding, damage surrounding bricks, surrounding bricks, with trowel, brush some, careful damage
