Patch brick mortar

[bcossa2001]

Did some power washing yesterday and have multiple locations where brick mortar joints have shrunk and have/are about to spall or fall out.
Does anyone have a preferred method and product to cut them out and replace?
Short of that are there any truly reliable patching products that will "stick" and remain in place??

I have the same issue with a brick entryway although those joints appear to be grout instead of mortar.

House was built in 1961..

 

[Duffyjr]

If you don't have a grinder with a diamond blade you can use a small chisel but you want to make sure and get any loose or about to be loose mortar out before you tuck point back in with mortar. Other issue is if it's warm out the mortar you tuck back in can dry to quick and not setup properly, make sure you hose down the area first and wait a bit, if you start tuck pointing to soon you will end up with a mess and is hard to clean up. Back in the day we use to use muriatic acid to clean up the smears on the brick surface but I believe they outlawed it and now use Sure Klean that doesn't work as well.

Are the joints flush with the brick or are they recessed/raked out? Mortar joints are like finishing concrete, you want to use a jointer to slick it off, this brings some moisture to the surface to help seal the joint.

For the entry way it sounds like a brick tile veneer, where the brick is only a half inch or so thick and installed in sheets. I don't have any experience with that type product.

With all this being said I haven't been a mason for almost 20 years so things may of changed.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

Liquid Nails Concrete and Mortar Repair works well. As time passes, you have to really look to see where you used the product. My damage was cosmetic. If there are possible structural issues, go with Duffyjr. I have no expertise in masonry.

 

[Duffyjr]

Originally Posted by TheLawnRanger
Liquid Nails Concrete and Mortar Repair works well. As time passes, you have to really look to see where you used the product. My damage was cosmetic. If there are possible structural issues, go with Duffyjr. I have no expertise in masonry.


This maybe easier if it's just surface damage. The important thing is to keep moisture (and critters) out so it doesn't get worse. I've always been function first looks second when it comes to this type of a repair.

I thought for sure I could find something on youtube for the OP but I honestly could not find one video that was correct from start to finish, the only thing I could find is how not to do it.

The only part of this video that is correct is in the beginning where he is wetting down the wall. Jump ahead to the 4 minute mark to see probably the worst possible way to do this, what a mess this guy made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF4H8Hb26i0

 

[Danno]

https://youtu.be/MMl8j6YBcoU
This video explains repointing pretty well.

 

[bcossa2001]

Joints are recessed and I'm guessing lime putty because of the light color. Gray will not match. I have a large mason trowel and small pointing trowel but no sled runner or rake joint tool.
Will have to borrow a side grinder. I'm afraid if I use a chisel with the recess joint that I'll damage the brick.
More tools to buy...

 

[Duffyjr]

One thing I forgot to mention is to not fill in the weep holes. Towards the bottom you should see some weep holes, don't fill them in. Other wise I think you go this.