Replacing a brick

Merlin5 · 22 Sep 2020 at 16:00

Hi guys. There's a missing half brick in the front wall on my neighbour's side but I'm going to repair it. There was a lot of lumpy mortar which I've chiselled out to reveal the brick behind. I've cut a dark coloured brick to fit and I've also got a light coloured brick I can cut. Which colour brick do you think is better to use?

I believe I should mix up 4 parts sand to 1 part cement for a mortar mix. I've got a big bag of coarse sharp sand which apparently isn't really meant to be used for brick laying. But wondering if I can use that or if I need to go and buy builders sand?

Dark...

Or light?

200sols · 22 Sep 2020 at 16:09

Sharp sand will look gritty and stand out from the other mortar. I would go for the lighter brick if you can't find a better match. Give the adjoining bricks a good soak of water to stop them drawing all the moisture from your mortar.

Merlin5 · 22 Sep 2020 at 16:14

200sols said:
Sharp sand will look gritty and stand out from the other mortar. I would go for the lighter brick if you can't find a better match. Give the adjoining bricks a good soak of water to stop them drawing all the moisture from your mortar.

Thanks, and thanks for the tip about soaking the bricks with water. Bah, I've got a massive bag of coarse sharp sand, not much that of it used, that someone told me to buy for some other job and now I'm lumbered with it.

I'll go and buy the smallest bag of builders sand I can find. And I'll cut the lighter coloured brick. I'll use some coarse sand as a shock absorbing bed for the brick to be cut on.

Kol · 22 Sep 2020 at 16:15

Can you not source a matching London Yellow? It would look miles better.

Merlin5 · 22 Sep 2020 at 16:21

Kol said:
Can you not source a matching London Yellow? It would look miles better.

Well the neighbour had said he was going to try and find a better matching brick, but I saw him yesterday and he seemed to be happy to use either of these bricks.

Was going to pop up to B n Q just now. What do you reckon to this sand? One good review and a bunch of bad ones saying lots of stones in it. Anyone used this brand?
https://www.diy.com/departments/tarmac-building-sand-large-bag/5030349012407_BQ.prd

Merlin5 · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:31

I bought builders sand and had a go at this a few days ago. I put the lighter brick on a bed of sand and cut it. First attempt of putting the brick in place was ****, lol. I made a 3:1 mortar mix but I didn't make it wet enough, and when buttering the top and sides of the brick it kept falling off! So I thought, nah, and scooped out the mortar while it was wet.

Tried again today with a 4:1 mix and more water. Sprayed the bricks with water as advised by 200sols.

Much better. I'd also gone out and bought a 5" pointing trowel, a tuck pointer and a jointing iron. I never got to use the jointing iron but the tuck pointer is awesome for getting the mortar pressed into the gaps right to the back. I used the pointing trowel for a first ever attempt at weatherstruck pointing which for a first try wasn't too bad I think. Just waiting for it to go off now.

I think I got my mix about the right consistency?

JBuk · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:35

If you ever make mortar again stick a few drops of plasticiser in it, you will use less water and the mix will be Much easier to use

Merlin5 · 1 Oct 2020 at 17:38

Thanks JBuk, I'll do that. I did see something about using fairy liquid as an alternative?

JBuk · 1 Oct 2020 at 19:36

Yeah a mate of mine who is a brickie uses washing up liquid but for the few quid it cost me for plasticiser I didn’t want to risk bodging the pointing I done and having to redo it within a few years

200sols · 1 Oct 2020 at 19:51

Merlin5 said:
Thanks JBuk, I'll do that. I did see something about using fairy liquid as an alternative?

Its and old technique best left in the past. It is thought to affect the longevity of mortar mixes now by creating air voids in the mixture.

arknor · 1 Oct 2020 at 20:05

if you would have burnt the side of the brick a bit it probably would have almost perfectly of matched the other darker ones

Merlin5 · 1 Oct 2020 at 20:50

Ah right, that's a interesting idea. Shall remember that for any similar brickwork I might do.
How long will it take for my mortar to change colour and lighten? And then I might put some sandpaper on the pointing to smooth some bits out. I'm pleased though, I just went to have a feel and it's absolutely solidly bonded in there.

psd99 · 4 Oct 2020 at 13:13

that is not such a bad job
prob over time it will fit in nicely good work but I wondered if its on your neighbours side why are u fixing it

Merlin5 · 4 Oct 2020 at 13:46

psd99 said:
that is not such a bad job
prob over time it will fit in nicely good work but I wondered if its on your neighbours side why are u fixing it

Well, I just fancied having a go since I have a bag of cement not really being used. Was good fun doing it. Need more practise to perfect the smoothing of the pointing.

psd99 · 4 Oct 2020 at 13:55

u are a good neighbour

mine would never dream of doing such things
we have "shared" hedges and trust me none cuts even 1mm extra to help other neighbours out lol

Merlin5 · 4 Oct 2020 at 14:09

psd99 said:
u are a good neighbour

mine would never dream of doing such things
we have "shared" hedges and trust me none cuts even 1mm extra to help other neighbours out lol

To be honest, I didn't really give a monkey's about my neighbour, I just saw it as a a small DIY opportunity for me to do.

Akagi · 4 Oct 2020 at 14:21

Need an updated picture once dry.

Merlin5 · 4 Oct 2020 at 14:36

Acme said:
Need an updated picture once dry.

Will do! Apparently it can take a few weeks to change colour.

LACKERKNACKER · 4 Oct 2020 at 20:08

If you want to practice some more, why not take one of the existing bricks out low down on the wall and replace the one you’ve just put it, then out that one lower down where it can’t be seen

Deleted member 77746 · 4 Oct 2020 at 20:55

LACKERKNACKER said:
If you want to practice some more, why not take one of the existing bricks out low down on the wall and replace the one you’ve just put it, then out that one lower down where it can’t be seen

Might as well build a house extension while they are on. Nice bit of practice for the OP.