Help Around the House host Henry Harrison shows a guest how to patch a hole that has allowed birds to set up housekeeping inside a brick wall (
figure A). On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a two.
Tools:
ladder
brush
spoon
brick hammer
square and pointed trowel
hammer drill with carbide-tipped masonry bit
buckets
clean rag
gloves
dust mask
safety glasses
replacement brick
mortar
Steps:
1. Put on the dust mask and safety glasses and drill several holes in the masonry around the perimeter of the affected brick with the hammer drill (figure B).
2. Tap the front of the brick with a brick hammer to break up the surrounding mortar. Chisel out mortar with other side of brick hammer (figure C), then pry brick out when loose.
3. Scrape away all old mortar until the opening's fairly clean. Now is probably a good time to go ahead and remove that bird's nest, too (figure D). (The nest was vacant and no birds were harmed during this project.)
4. Moisten surrounding brick and mortar with water so it does not absorb moisture from the fresh mortar. Mix mortar according to package directions, or until about the consistency of cookie dough.
5. Place some mortar on a trowel and lay along bottom of joint at the same thickness as existing mortar (figure E).
6. Butter top of replacement brick with mortar (figure F) to create a nice, smooth peak. Apply a layer along sides of hole and slide brick into place (figure G).
7. Pack mortar tightly into gaps, trying to keep all lines even. Dip a spoon in water and use the back to "tool out" the new mortar joints to match existing joints. Use the trowel to scrape away excess mortar stuck on the front of the bricks.
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