Drilling into brick becomes necessary when you hang pictures, mirrors, lightweight shelves, or cabinets on a masonry wall. It also comes up when large holes are needed for outdoor outlets and light fixtures. The job feels difficult with a conventional rotary drill and a bit that is not meant for masonry, but the right tools […]
Brick chimneys do not fail all at once. Cracks in the brick, or in the masonry joints between bricks, are early warning signs that the chimney needs attention, and they are also the cheapest problems to fix. Patching those cracks early can save thousands of dollars in repairs later, and it reduces the risk of
A brick fire pit gives a backyard a permanent gathering point that a portable metal bowl cannot match. The brick mass holds heat and radiates warmth long after the flames drop, and it anchors the seating area visually. Builders can choose round, square, or rectangular forms, set the pit in the ground or above it,
Brick is one of the oldest manufactured building materials still in everyday use, and the reason is not nostalgia. A well-built brick wall carries load for generations, sheds weather, and needs little maintenance beyond occasional repointing. The performance of that wall depends less on the individual brick than on the pattern in which the bricks
A stacked stone fireplace turns an ordinary wall into the visual anchor of a room, and the look fits more styles than people expect. Rough, irregular stones in gray and brown read as rustic cabin or French cottage, while long, slender pieces in a tight pattern suit midcentury modern interiors. The construction behind the look
Repointing brick extends the life of walls, chimneys, and siding by removing old mortar and replacing it with new mortar. The process, sometimes called tuckpointing, is inexpensive compared with rebuilding a wall, and it heads off costly water damage before it starts. A typical brick chimney repointing project removes failing joints, cleans the gaps, packs
Mortar is the weakest part of any brick assembly, and it fails on a predictable schedule. After 25 to 30 years of weather, joints erode, crumble, and open up, letting water into the wall where it damages brick, framing, and foundations. Tuckpointing, also called repointing, is the repair: cutting the damaged mortar to a consistent
Limewashing brick gives exterior and interior masonry a soft, chalky finish that keeps the texture of the brick visible underneath. The coating is made from crushed limestone and water, and its semi-transparent patina is what separates a limewashed wall from a simply painted one. Limewash soaks into the pores of the brick, slows surface deterioration,
Cutting brick is a routine part of masonry repair and remodeling. You might need to remove a single damaged brick from a fireplace or wall, open space for a vent, pipe, or outlet, or size new bricks for a patio, pathway, or outdoor fireplace. The job splits into two distinct tasks: cutting an installed brick
Brick masonry is a structural element built from bricks and cement mortar. Different qualities of brick are combined with different mortar mixes depending on the architectural design and the loads the wall will carry. The bricks are placed according to a design bond so that they knit together into a wall that can safely withstand
