How To Repair Old Brick Patio

brick patio mortar repair

"The commencement matter you need to do is expect very closely at your existing mortar joints. Look at the color of the sand."

Brick Patio Mortar Repair Checklist

Matching sand is the meridian priority
Use hydrated lime in the mortar
A mortar bag is a must-take tool
Mortar must be rich to catamenia from the bag

Dear TIM: I accept a lovely brick patio that has mortar between the brick. Later pressure washing it this past weekend, I noticed several locations where the mortar has disintegrated.

Well-nigh of the mortar is in excellent condition, only a few places need to be repaired. Some of the voids are 1 inch deep, while others only need possibly one-eighth inch of mortar. How do I mix the new mortar, and what tools practice I employ so I don't brand a mess of things? I have lots of free fourth dimension, then what are the best weather conditions to work in then the repairs last a long time? Holleay P., Kitty Hawk, NC

What is the Best Brick Patio Mortar?

The all-time brick patio mortar, in my opinion, is one that contains hydrated lime, Portland cement, and a medium sand.

When I am edifice a brick patio like the one you lot and I take, I apply a special mortar that will withstand years of Mother Nature's corruption.

Information technology sounds similar your builder did the same thing, just the mortar in a few locations was defective. That has happened to me in a few spots on my own patio. I traced the defects to excessive water from a rainstorm that happened soon after one section of the new brick was grouted.

What is the All-time Mortar Recipe?

I suggest you lot repair the defective joints in your patio with the aforementioned type of mortar mix I used when I installed my patio. It's extremely durable, and will last for xl - 50 years if you cure the joints once they are installed.

3 5-gallon buckets of dry sand that matches existing sand in patio mortar joints
6.38 gallons of Portland cement
1.12 gallons of hydrated lime

brick patio mortar repair

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How Do I Match the Sand for the Mortar?

You lot match the sand by paying attention to the color and size of the individual pieces of sand in the erstwhile mortar.

Your biggest challenge is going to exist matching the colour and texture of the existing mortar. You lot did the right matter by thoroughly cleaning the brick and mortar first. All besides frequently, people endeavour to match mortar colors and fail to clean the surrounding mortar first. Mortar on walls, and especially on flat patios, tin go very muddied.

The showtime affair you demand to do is look very closely at your existing mortar joints. Wait at the color of the sand.

brick patio mortar repair

Wait at the colored pieces of sand. Note the size and dissimilar colors. I see white, black, orange, and some gray pieces of sand.

Check out the different colored pieces of sand. Each grain is a small piece of solid rock. The sand for the repair job should match the existing sand as close as possible in grain size, shape and color. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Cheque out the different colored pieces of sand. Each grain is a small-scale slice of solid rock. The sand for the repair job should lucifer the existing sand equally close as possible in grain size, shape and color. Copyright 2022 Tim Carter

Is All Sand the Same?

Believe information technology or not, non all sand looks the same. Sand is but a collection of very modest rock particles, and the colour of individual sand particles tin can be vastly different if the particles come up from a variety of blackness, ruby-red, white and gray rocks. Visit different edifice supply businesses and/or sand and gravel pits, and try to observe sand that matches both in color and particle size.

Once you lot have the right sand, mix your brick patio mortar using my recipe yous see above. This volition make a very rich mixture that will be exceedingly strong.

You need this strength, even though you lot do not get too many extremely cold days.

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What is the Best Tool to Install the Mortar?

A grout purse is the best tool to install the brick patio mortar.

Extra cement and hydrated lime in your mortar assistance make the mortar flow hands from the tip of the special grout bag yous'll use to fill up the defective mortar joints.

brick patio mortar repair

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Mortar grout bags are just like icing bags used by professional cake decorators. They are larger than an icing bag, and take a metal cone tip that has a half-inch hole at the end.

What's the All-time Conditions to Repair Brick Patio Mortar?

I prefer to work on cloudy days when the temperature is in the 50 - 65 F range. Do not work on a hot, sunny windy day. The mortar will dry likewise chop-chop, especially where y'all are filling slight depressions in the existing mortar joints.

How Do Y'all Install the Mortar in Between the Brick?

Once yous take the mortar mixed, lightly spritz the mortar joints you are going to fill. Practice not get them too wet, merely slightly clammy.

Fill the grout bag one-half way with the mortar mix, and apply slight pressure to make the mortar mix flow only as toothpaste oozes from its tube. If you lot tin can't get the mortar to period, you need to add more cement and/or slightly more water. The mortar mix needs to exist adequately wet and then that information technology doesn't clog the grout bag tip.

brick patio mortar repair

Carefully guide the grout purse tip then that you employ new mortar merely to the joint. Move the purse along and make certain you utilise mortar so it rises to a higher place the level of the brick by about ane-quarter inch.

The fresh mortar needs to touch the pinnacle edges of all the brick. Let it set until you see information technology change from wet and glossy to a flat grayness color. Use a small-scale triangular trowel to gently scrape off the excess mortar and so the top of the mortar is affluent with the brick. Keep the fresh mortar damp for three days and so it cures well.

When Practice You Scrape Off Backlog Mortar?

If y'all scrape the excess mortar as well soon, it will smear onto the brick. You exercise not want this to happen, especially if the brick has a rough texture or grooves created by the wire-cutting process as the brick is manufactured. If mortar gets in these grooves, it is a nightmare to remove.

You also have to exist conscientious nearly waiting too long to scrape off the excess mortar. If the mortar gets too hard, you run the risk of breaking the bond between the new and sometime mortar. If this happens, your new mortar may fail in a few years.

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Brick Patio Mortar Repair - Old Secret Method - Hydrated Lime | AsktheBuilder.com

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Brick Patio Mortar Repair - Old Secret Method - Hydrated Lime | AsktheBuilder.com

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Brick patio mortar repair is simple if you employ hydrated lime in your mortar. A secret recipe is here besides as great how-to video.

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Tim Carter

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AsktheBuilder.com

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