RePointing Brick...a Porch Foundation Repair

by Building Moxie

1 Material

We are continuing work on our patio and today I will be sharing how we repaired a small section of brick, about a 15-30 foot area, at our side porch foundation.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, Part of the problem with this brick due to the weight of two porches a roof and 120 years pushing down on it it had sagged The mortar had popped out and the bricks compressed

Part of the problem with this brick, due to the weight of two porches, a roof, and 120 years pushing down on it- it had sagged. The mortar had popped out and the bricks compressed.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, his is probably about the most important aspect of the entire process mixing your mortar up right You do not want your mortar to be too dry or too wet Visit the post for all of the fine details

his is probably about the most important aspect of the entire process … mixing your mortar up right. You do not want your mortar to be too dry or too wet. Visit the post for all of the fine details.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, Pictured are tools that will be needed for the project

Pictured are tools that will be needed for the project.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, To prep the brick I purchased a tuck pointing blade a fat diamond blade for my angle grinder I ran it through all the mortar joints to about a depth of or 5 8

To prep the brick, I purchased a tuck pointing blade – a fat diamond blade for my angle grinder. I ran it through all the mortar joints, to about a depth of ½” or 5/8”.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, I used the same blade to cut long thin notches in the bottom edge of the top most courses of brick This created not only a line to which I could apply mortar it also allowed me to slip long steel shims in

I used the same blade to cut long, thin notches in the bottom edge of the top most courses of brick. This created not only a line to which I could apply mortar, it also allowed me to slip long steel shims in.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, Using my mortar pan trough and setting it under where I was working I loaded up the back side of a large mason s trowel I took a tuck pointer and I worked to fill up the cavity in my brick fully

Using my mortar pan/trough and setting it under where I was working, I loaded up the back side of a large mason’s trowel. I took a tuck pointer and I worked to fill up the cavity in my brick, fully.

repointing brick a porch foundation repair, concrete masonry, curb appeal, home maintenance repairs, how to, I did around 4 5 courses at a time using a simple brush finish I ended with a quick strike being conscious of straight lines of the tuck pointer

I did around 4-5 courses at a time, using a simple brush finish. I ended with a quick “strike” (being conscious of straight lines) of the tuck pointer.