Backyard Decorative Brick Border Repair

Fig.1 Damaged bricks

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Bricks red 
Boxed mortar
Bucket, rubber or plastic
Hammer 
Sponge large
Trowel with rubber handle
Water hose with a water source

Mr. Suez wanted his backyard brick border repairs finished in one day. I arrived and realized that the brick wall had lost most of its mortar and the bricks were no longer straight.

This post shows the thirteen steps on how to repair a damaged red brick border. 

Step 1: Above Fig.1, fig.2, and fig.3 shows each brick level is damaged and/or missing, and all the levels were loose.
Step 2: The job was started by purchasing supplies at a local hardware store. The tools used were a rubber handle trowel. The rubber handle on the trowel gives the grip needed to push around the mortar in and around the cracks between the bricks.  The boxed mortar was the perfect size for this job. Mr. Suez provided the water hose with water to mix and soak the bricks. 

Fig.2 Assemble red bricks

Fig.3 Check damages

Step 3: Fig.4 shows all the bricks from the garden that needed to be removed.

Fig.4 Bricks removed

Step 4: Identify the beginning of the brick wall. 
Step 5: Soak the bricks with water from the water hose so the mortar will stick to the bricks. This needs to be done during the entire job. 
Step 6: Start with the bottom row, in this job there were only 3 rows of bricks, not all the bricks were loosened so I removed all the loose bricks from the damaged areas. 
Step 7: Fig.5 and fig.6 shows the mortar box when the box is opened. Prepare a small amount of mortar to be applied in a plastic pail.

Fig.5 Fast setting mortal

Fig.6 Dry mortar mix

Step 8. Fig.7 shows the rubber bucket that will be used to mix the small amount of mortar mixture. Below middle shows fig.8 shows how fast it dries, this is the reason why a small amount is mixed at one time. Notice the trowel was used to remove the mortar mixture.

Fig.7 Mixing pail

Fig.8 Mixing mortar

Step 9: Fig.9 shows how to use a hammer to remove the old mortar from the bricks. It was removed from the top and bottom as needed to clean the bricks.

Fig.9 Tapping bricks

Step 10: Fig.10 and fig.11 shows two picture views of the application of mortar being placed on the bottom and the side were the new brick will be placed.

Fig.10 Placing mortar

Fig.11 Place mortar to set bricks

Step 11: Fig.12 shows the water hose provides water to the mortar to make a stronger repair.

Fig.12 Watering repairs

Step 12: Fig.13 shows the what the wall should look like; each level straight and no excess mortar on the front of the wall. It's OK to have it on the back of the wall, the garden side. A sponge was used to remove any excess mortar from the bricks. This give the front wall a clean new look.

Fig.13 Sponge side wall

Step 13: Fig.14 through fig.16 shows the finished wall. Now Mr. Suez can plant flowers behind his new red brick wall.

Fig 14 Top view of brick wall

Fig 15 Project finished

Fig.16 Wash top of bricks

Handyman Blog: DIY Advisor

Food Blog: From Kiwis To Pistachios

Artwork Blog: Light in Dark Artwork

Class-A Tests: DIY Class-A Drivers License Tests

• Cookie Alert: European Union laws requires that you know that this blog uses cookies. If you are concerned about this please click here to see how Google uses this information.

Note: The DIY Advisor assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any jobs. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed contractor if in doubt about any steps on these posts. All names were changed to protect client's privacy. DIY Advisor. Reproduction of site content including photos without permission prohibited. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-