The Ins and Outs of Front Porch Brick Repair

Whenever people visit your home, they are likely going to see your front porch before anything else first. It’s where you meet and greet and people form their first impressions of your home.

When your porch is in good working order, this is perfectly fine. When it’s in disrepair, it’s not only an eyesore, but it can make for a poor impression, making even the newest of homes seem unkempt and run-down. 

Don’t you think it’s about time to fix that? 

Here’s what you need to know about repairing the brick on your front porch.

Removing the Bricks

There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to repair the damage on your own. If you want to do that, the first thing you’re going to need to do is remove the loose brick. 

Depending on the sturdiness of the brick and the overall condition of the porch, you may only need to use a pry bar.

Is the Structure Compromised?

What you see is not always what you get. Just because an issue seems cosmetic, doesn’t mean that it’s the only thing wrong. Just to be sure, you should see if the damage extends to the structure itself. 

Does it extend far beyond the brick, into the cement? Does it affect a support wall, or other important structure? If so, you may want to bring in the professionals if you feel out of your depth. 

If the damage hasn’t compromised the structure of your patio, home, or both, continue to remove the loose bricks, removing the old mortar and placing them aside for later use. 

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Ton of Cure

As with all things, you’re going to want to take precautions so that you don’t end up having to redo your own hard work. 

For one, new bricks tend to suck up a lot of moisture from the ground. We recommend digging a two-foot trench and filling it with crushed stones to prevent this. It’s also really important to have a secure connection to your support wall, so every few feet, make sure to nail a metal brick tie to it. 

With this in mind, you should be ready to start reinstalling your old brick. Just start at the ledge in the support wall, and when you get a tie, bend up the end and rest the brick on the top. Cover it up with mortar, and then it’s on to the next one!

If All Else Fails, Bring in the Cavalry

Don’t be ashamed if things don’t go according to plan, though. We all have bad days, and sometimes a job is too big for one person.

If you are feeling out of your depth, or just don’t want to bother with doing it yourself, give Brick + Ember Outfitters a call. Not only will we look at and assess the damage, but give you a free quote.