Brick Porch Ledge Repair

Tools:

sledgehammer
brick chisel
brick hammer
face shield
work gloves
trowel
mortar mix
mortar box
bonding agent
old paintbrush
spoon
level
drill with masonry bit
anchor bolts
whiskbroom
duct tape
scrap wood to build form
screws
concrete mix

1. Put on the face shield and work gloves and pull away the loose bricks by hand. Remove tighter bricks using the brick chisel and hammer.

2. Scrape away old mortar using the chisel and brick hammer (figure A). You can reuse the old bricks, but first chip away old mortar using the flat end of the brick hammer (figure B).

3. Mix mortar according to manufacturer's directions. The mortar should have the consistency of oatmeal.

4. Before applying mortar, brush on a layer of bonding agent with an old paintbrush to give the new mortar a nice, sticky surface to adhere to (figure C).

5. In this case, the ledge had a large center clump of bricks. Spread down a layer of mortar with a trowel and put the large piece in place first (figure D).

6. Now put the outside bricks in place. Spread a layer of mortar down and even it out with the tip of your trowel. Butter the ends of each brick with mortar before setting in place (figure E).

7. Tap each brick with the back of the trowel until it is even with the existing bricks. Scrape off excess mortar with a trowel.

8. Tool or shape the fresh mortar joints using the back of a spoon (figure F). Dip the spoon in water and run it along the joints. Keep the spoon wet as you work

9. Allow the mortar to set overnight before pouring a new concrete slab for the top.

10. If part of the slab remains, drill two holes into the broken edge with a masonry bit to install anchor bolts (figure G). Clean away debris using a whiskbroom.

11. Build a form along the edge of the old slab and using screws and scrap boards (figure H). Use duct tape to secure the form to the existing concrete slab.

12. Mix quick-setting pre-mixed concrete according to directions. Sprinkle the work area with water so the bricks do not absorb too much moisture out of the fresh concrete, causing it to crack (figure I).

13. Dip the anchor bolts into fresh concrete and work them into holes you drilled earlier. Do this several times to work plenty of fresh concrete into the holes (figure J).

14. Pour the concrete into the center of the form and work to the edges using a trowel (figure K).

15. Once the mortar fills the form, take a long board and work it back-and-forth across the fresh concrete to create a smooth, even surface (figure L).

16. Feather in the new concrete with the existing slab using a new trowel.

17. Let the concrete set up for a couple of days before removing the forms. Mist the area with water each day for a couple of weeks so the concrete sets properly.