Brick Sidewalk Repair

Brick Sidewalk Repair
by Gary Kleier
CHTKY.org

One of the problems / advantages of brick sidewalks is that they can move. It is a problem because they can become a tripping hazard. It is an advantage because, unlike concrete, brick is easy to repair. Believe me, this is not rocket science. By the time you finish reading this short article, you will be ready to tackle your first repair job with confidence.

The first things are the tools. Figure 1 shows several basic things that will make life a little easier. From the left:

A margin trowel for slipping down between the bricks and working them loose.

A mason's hammer for chipping off small pieces of brick.

A dead blow hammer or rubber mallet for convincing the brick to lie flat.

Ear protectors if you need the item in figure 2.

Not shown in the photograph, but very important if you intend to chip or cut brick, are protective glasses

If you need to cut brick, and you probably will not, you may want to purchase a masonry blade for your circular saw. These are relatively expensive and I don't recommend it unless you really think you must have it. Like I said, you will probably not need it.

Figure 1	Figure 2

Figure 3
	Figure 3 shows a section of sidewalk that has been pushed up by a tree root. The bricks are displaced about 1/2" upward and present a tripping hazard. The first step is the most difficult; get that first brick out. That is where the margin trowel or something similar is very handy. Work it into the head joint (the short joint) at one end of a brick and lift up. It will not come all the way. You will have to go to the other end of the brick and repeat the process until you work it out. Then it is relatively easy to remove the remainder of the brick.
Figure 4
	Figure 4 Remove enough brick to completely expose the offending root and cut it off. If your problem is that there is a depression in the walkway, remove all of the brick within the depression. In the process of doing all of this, you have disturbed the sand or gravel bead on which the brick rest. The next thing to do is smooth out the sand (add more if you need it) and compact it tightly. Use the flat side of one of the bricks you removed and smack the sand to compact it. If you don't, the bricks will settle and you will be doing this all over again.
Figure 5	Figure 5 The next step sounds easy, but you might be surprised. Replace the bricks. Somehow, they just never want to go back the way the came out. Here are some tips:

If the last brick in the row just will not go in, use your rubber mallet and smack the last brick on the end to tighten up the row. Sometimes this is a good idea after you have laid two or three.

Sometimes it is necessary to tighten up the rows from side to side. Again, use the rubber mallet and tap them together. Be careful. You can knock the whole sidewalk out of alignment if you get to aggressive with this.

These same tips work no matter what pattern you are laying.

What if there is too much space when you get to the end of the row? Using your margin trowel (or whatever flat bladed instrument you are using) go back several bricks, insert it in the joint and wiggle it until the joint opens up. Try not to exceed 1/8" unless the rest of the brick joints are bigger than that. Do this between all the bricks in the row until you take up as much space as you need.

How do you know if the bricks are level? Use a straight edge that is long enough to span the entire area you are repairing. If a brick is low, remove it and place some sand under it. If the brick is high, tap it with the rubber mallet until it settles into place. If it will not settle, remove some sand from under it.

What if a brick breaks? The simple answer is "forget it". I am serious. A broken brick here or there will do no harm. If it is a matter of esthetics, use the trowel to remove it and replace it. Remember this, unless you have more brick of the type used in the sidewalk, replacing the brick will be more noticeable than a broken brick.

Figure 6

Figure 6

The last, but equally important step, is to fill the joints between the bricks with sand. If the area is relatively small, I like to begin by working the sand in by hand. This will usually get much more sand into the joints than just sweeping with a broom. Make sure you remove the loose sand from the sidewalk to keep people from slipping.

In a day or two the original sand will settle and it will be necessary to sweep more sand into the cracks.

By the way, Jed Johnson, my volunteer for this exercise, completed the work from beginning to end in 20 minutes.

If. After reading this article you have the desire to install your own brick paving, I suggest you read my article on that subject here on the Old Louisville Web site. You can also find great information at the Brick Institute of America web site. www.bia.org

Š2000-2002 Gary Kleier, OldLouisville.com

Webmaster's note:
Gary Kleier is our resident Old Louisville Architectural Conservator. He lives on Floral Terrace and is one of those folks who was instrumental in the landscaping and beautification of that little jewel of a walking court between Sixth and Seventh Streets. Gary specializes in restoration architecture and architectural forensic services and has a wide range of talents which are described on his own web site at www.KleierAssociates.com. You can reach Gary by email at gjkleier@netscape.net

Other articles in this series:

Brick Structures - Oh What Damage We Do Inflict "The most deadly enemy is man and what he does in the name of maintenance and rehabilitation."

The Vinyl Lie "Every day unsuspecting owners of historic homes, believing they are actually making an investment in their home, succumb to the vicious lies of an unscrupulous industry....."

A True Story "The next time you are thinking about doing something to your "old" house, think about this true story."

Brick Sidewalk Repair A quick primer on repairing your brick walkways.

Brick or Concrete? An illustrated discussion on the advantages of both brick and concrete sidewalks. You decide.

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