Red bricks are the most common type of brick used in residential construction work, as these bricks are extremely durable and long-lasting. However, with weather changes throughout the year, going from scorching to freezing days, bricks can begin to crumble over the years. If you are experiencing this problem, you may be wondering how to repair crumbling red bricks. This DIY task is not too difficult if you have the right tools, follow the instructions below and you are dedicated to solving the issue.

Tools & Materials Needed:

There are a few tools and materials that you will need for this project. These include:

PPE

Gloves
Goggles

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Tools

Chisel
Hammer
Dust sheet
Bull-nosed pointing trowel
Soft brush
Water sprayer
Measuring jug
Builders float
Brick jointer

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1. Remove loose damaged brick

Before you start removing loose damaged brick, you should put on PPE equipment (gloves and goggles). Staying safe whilst completing DIY projects is very important.

Also, you should place a dust sheet on the floor, so that it can catch any excess materials. This ensures that the area you are working in is kept clean and tidy, and the floor is not damaged.

When you are replacing a damaged area of red brickwork, you need to work on a clean surface, this ensures that the mortar and brick can stick together with ease, providing a smoother finish. You should remove the excess mortar and brick by using a hammer and chisel and dig out all excess material.

Now use a soft brush to sweep away any excess bricks or mortar so that the area is clean and ready to begin to repair.

2. Mix the colour matched mortar

Once the area is clean, you are ready to start the main part of the project. To prepare for this, you should mix the coloured matched mortar together.

Add the sachet of mortar into a bucket along with measured water. Typically, you will need to mix 3:1 mortar to water. For this project, expect to add 400-500ml of water. You can read more about mortar ratios and mixes in another of our blog posts.

After the water and mortar are in the bucket, mix thoroughly until the mixture is stiff and it can stick to the trowel you are using.

3. Wet the brick

Now you need to wet the brick. You can do this by filling up a water sprayer with water and spraying it onto the brick.

4. Fill the brickwork gap with mortar

After this, you should fill the brickwork gap with mortar. Add some of the mortar mix to the builder's float and align this with the gap you are working with. The builder's float ensures that no mortar is dropped, so you do not have too much cleaning up to do after the project is complete. Fill the gap with mortar and push it in upwards until the gap is completely filled.

5. Smooth off the surface & shape the joints

If the gap is completely filled, then you should smooth off the surface and ensure that it is on the same level as the bricks around it.

To make the repair look more natural, you can use a brick jointer to shape the joints and make it look similar to the surrounding bricks.

6. Brush the surface

Wait for the mortar to stiffen. This can take between 10 and 20 minutes. Once the mortar is firm, you can take a soft brush and sweep away any excess mortar on top of the repaired brick. This leaves the mortar looking more brick-like.

Why are the bricks on my house crumbling?

There are many reasons why the bricks on your house might be crumbling, here are some of the most common causes of crumbling red brick:

Water Damage: Water can erode bricks and this can be harmful to mortar, causing the bricks to crumble. Additionally, if water is in the cracks of the wall and it freezes, it can cause the movement of bricks.
High-pressure cleaning: if you use high-pressure cleaners (e.g. a jet wash) regularly, this can cause the brick and mortar to soften over time.
Using the wrong mortar: Using the wrong mortar can cause the bricks on your house to crumble, as it might not be able to last through certain weather conditions.

As soon as you notice bricks crumbling, you should solve the problem before it worsens. If the problem is out of control, you should get in touch with an expert.