If a couple bricks in a retaining wall have fallen out, soil erosion may become an issue and plants and foliage that are displayed behind an enclosure may lack essential nutrients for healthy growth. The following Masonry Restoration in Boston MA project will assist with replacing bricks in order to strengthen a wall and improve its appearance.
Materials
- water hose
- stiff-bristled scrub brush
- detergent
- putty knife
- bricks
- mortar mix
- bucket
- mixing stick
- trowel
- putty knife
- sponge
Removing Dirt And Dried Mortar
After spraying each side of a brick wall with a water hose, a stiff-bristled scrub brush that has a small amount of detergent applied to it can be used to remove hardened dirt and mortar. A putty knife can be used to remove mortar if a brush doesn’t work well. Once spots, where replacement bricks will be installed, have been treated, they need to be rinsed off with plain water.
Installing New Bricks
Mortar mix and water should be measured according to instructions that are included with a mixed variety. Both items can be blended together inside of a large bucket. An even layer of the mix should be added to a trowel before adding a layer of the mixture to the sides and back of each replacement brick. Bricks can be wedged into spaces in a wall and pressed firmly until they adhere. Excess putty can be leveled with a putty knife.
If any mortar mix is applied to the front of each brick by accident, it can be removed with a damp sponge. During the time that it takes for mortar mix to dry, no weight should be added to a retaining wall. In order to keep a wall maintained, bricks need to be rinsed off regularly with a hose. Products that are designed to be used on brick surfaces can be used to eliminate dirty residue from a structure.
If a brick wall ever becomes severely damaged, an individual can contact Fitzgerald Restoration Inc or another company that provides Masonry Restoration in Boston MA. A licensed company can also be hired to install new structures that are constructed with bricks.
