What is Brick Replacement (Toothing / Indenting)?
Brick replacement (also called toothing, indenting or piecing in) is the replacement of loose, damaged or deteriorated bricks in an existing wall without demolishing the rest of the masonry. The affected bricks are removed one by one and replaced with new bricks, which are then re-bedded in fresh mortar. The result is a locally repaired wall.
When to Use Brick Replacement?
Brick replacement is the appropriate method when:
- Bricks have crumbled, become porous or have split
- Frost damage has caused bricks to break apart
- Moisture problems have attacked the core of bricks
- Joints have weathered but the bricks themselves are still sound
- A breach or opening has been filled with the wrong bricks
How Does Brick Replacement Work?
- Identify loose bricks — tap lightly on the bricks; a hollow sound indicates poor adhesion
- Remove the bricks — carefully chisel out with a bolster and lump hammer, without damaging adjacent bricks
- Saw the opening — for hard-to-reach bricks, use an angle grinder if needed
- Clean out — remove dust, dampen the opening
- Apply mortar — a bed of fresh mortar on the bottom of the opening
- Place the new brick — use the same type and colour of brick if possible
- Point up — fill the perpend and bed joints, trowel smooth
Matching Bricks
This is the trickiest step when repairing an older facade. Old bricks have different dimensions and colours from modern bricks. Options:
- Salvage bricks — same era and colour, available from reclamation dealers
- Specialist supplier — offers period-style bricks from specific centuries
- Tinting — disguise the colour difference with brick paint (temporary)
Brick Replacement vs. Full Rebuilding
| Brick replacement | Full rebuild | |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | Partial | Large or structural |
| Cost | Low – medium | High |
| Structural | Not affected | Possibly affected |
| Appearance | Colour difference possible | More uniform end result |
Related Terms
- Masonry bond
- Mortar mix
- Mortar
- Perpend joint
- Rubble stone
- Facade
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