If the mortar between your bricks is crumbling, you may have problems with insects, drafts and moisture. But it's not difficult to repair--or "repoint"--mortar. Materials:
Brick chisel
Heavy hammer
Pointing trowels
Mortar mix
Gloves
Bucket
Paintbrush or wallpaper brush
Latex gloves
Safety glasses
- Use a heavy hammer and a brick chisel (or a narrow cold chisel) to chip out loose mortar (figure A). Brush out dust and debris with a paintbrush or wallpaper brush.
- Mix a batch of mortar to the consistency of toothpaste or peanut butter (figure B). Pour water into a bucket, and mix in dry mortar until you reach the appropriate consistency. Wear gloves: mortar can severely irritate your skin.
- Use a pointing trowel to push the mortar into the gap between the bricks. Place a scoop of mortar on one trowel, and hold it next to the gap in the bricks. Use the other trowel to slide the mortar into the gap (figure C). Force as much mortar as possible into the gap.
- After the mortar has set enough to hold a thumbprint, smooth it out.
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