You pull up to your driveway after a long, exhausting day. Instead of admiring your carefully manicured lawn or your beautifully painted front door, your eyes instantly lock onto the exterior walls. Right there, by the entryway, are faded, chipped, and crumbling bricks that completely drag down your home’s first impression.
But do not worry, because there is great news! If you are wondering how to replace brick on front of house without pulling your hair out or draining your bank account, you are in the exact right place. Real estate statistics consistently show that replacing damaged exterior features can boost your home’s curb appeal by a massive 20% to 30%. That visual upgrade translates directly into increased property value and a home you can be genuinely proud to show off.
You might assume that any masonry work requires calling in a highly paid professional. While massive structural rebuilds certainly require a pro, tackling a handful of damaged facade bricks is surprisingly simple. This DIY brick replacement project is perfect for beginners who want to save big. Instead of spending upwards of $1,000 for a mason’s minimum call-out fee, you can complete this project for roughly $50 to $200 in materials.
Why You Should Prioritize Brick Repair Curb Appeal
You might be wondering whether replacing a single cracked brick is really worth the effort. The short answer is an absolute yes! When you fix front house bricks, you are doing much more than just applying a cosmetic band-aid. You are actively protecting your biggest investment.
Damaged masonry doesn’t just look bad; it creates vulnerabilities. When bricks crack or mortar crumbles, water finds an easy pathway into the interior walls of your home. Over time, freezing and thawing cycles will expand those tiny cracks into massive, expensive structural problems.
Mastering how to replace brick on the front of a house transforms exteriors and offers numerous benefits. Let’s break down exactly why this DIY project is worth your weekend:
- Enhances your entryway focal point: Fresh, perfectly aligned bricks draw the eye and make your home look incredibly well-maintained.
- Matches modern landscaping trends: Updating your facade helps your house blend perfectly with newer brick pavers, garden walls, or walkways.
- Prevents severe water damage: Sealing up cracks means moisture can no longer rot your wood framing or invite mold into your insulation.
- Provides eco-friendly reuse: If your home uses older materials, you can often source salvaged bricks, which is a great, eco-friendly way to recycle masonry.
- Boosts your return on investment (ROI): Simple exterior repairs offer some of the highest ROIs in home improvement.
Taking charge of your home’s maintenance makes you a better, more confident homeowner. Just as any good professional understands the full scope and impact of a project before beginning, you should recognize that this small weekend task has massive long-term benefits for your property.
Essential Tools and Materials Needed
Before you swing a hammer or mix a single drop of water into your mortar, you need the right gear. Preparation is everything in masonry. Gathering your tools beforehand ensures your project flows smoothly and prevents those annoying mid-project runs to the hardware store.
Here is a clear, simple table breaking down exactly what you will need for your DIY brick replacement:
Category Items Purpose
Tools Cold chisel, 2-3 lb sledgehammer, masonry drill, pointing trowel, wire brush, safety goggles, heavy-duty gloves Used to safely remove old brick, clean out the cavity, and apply fresh mortar.
Materials Replacement bricks (match size/color carefully), pre-mixed mortar (Type N or Type S), waterproof lath (if replacing veneers) These ensure a seamless, strong fit and long-lasting durability for your facade.
Optional : Angle grinder with a diamond blade, pressure washer, sponge, soapy water in a bucket . Helpful for precision cuts, deep cleaning, and removing mortar haze at the end.
A Quick Budget Tip for Beginners: If you are only replacing a few bricks, your budget should easily stay under $100. The most critical part of your shopping trip is matching the existing bricks. Take a broken piece of your old brick to a local brickyard or masonry supplier. Speak to the experts there in a simple, conversational style to explain your project goals so they can help you find an exact color and texture match .
Crucial Safety Precautions Before You Begin
We want you to boost your curb appeal, but we want you to do it safely! Safety first when learning to replace brick on the front of the house. Working with masonry involves flying shards of heavy baked clay, heavy tools, and fine dust that you absolutely do not want in your lungs.
Please take a few minutes to read through these non-negotiable safety steps before you begin:
- Inspect for load-bearing issues: If you only need to replace one to five bricks scattered across a wall, you are generally safe. However, if you see a large cluster of damaged bricks or a bulging wall, stop immediately. Consult a structural engineer.
- Wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): A masonry drill and a sledgehammer will send sharp chips flying. Always wear shatter-proof safety goggles. Heavy leather gloves will protect your knuckles from scraping on rough edges.
- Ventilate for mortar dust: Mortar contains silica. When you drill or grind it, it releases a dangerous fine powder. Wear a high-quality N95 respirator mask to protect your lungs.
- Check the weather forecast: Only tackle this project on dry, mild days. If it is raining, your mortar will turn to soup. If it is freezing, the mortar will not cure properly.
- Secure your ladder: If the damaged brick is high up, ensure your ladder is on flat, stable ground. Never overreach while holding heavy masonry tools.
- Hydrate and pace yourself: Masonry is a surprisingly physical job. Take breaks, drink plenty of water, and do not rush the process.
Step-by-Step DIY Guide: How to Replace Brick on Front of House
Now we get to the fun part! This step-by-step tutorial is broken down into simple, easy-to-follow segments. Take your time, read through each step carefully, and you will have a beautiful new facade in no time.
Assess and Prep the Area
Your very first task is to play detective. Walk up to your front wall and carefully inspect the damage. You are looking for deep chips, loose and crumbly mortar, or dark water stains that indicate moisture penetration.
Take a piece of chalk and clearly mark the bricks that need to go. For a standard DIY project, try to keep your replacement count to a maximum of 5 to 10 bricks at a time. If you remove too many bricks in a concentrated area without installing temporary supports, you risk destabilizing the wall above.
Once you have identified the culprits, give the entire surrounding area a good wash. You can use a pressure washer on a low setting or a simple garden hose with a scrub brush. Getting rid of the surface dirt helps you see the true color of your existing mortar, which is crucial when you try to blend the new mortar later.
Remove the Damaged Bricks
This step requires patience. Your goal is to remove the bad brick without damaging the perfectly good bricks around it.
Start by grabbing your drill equipped with a masonry bit. You want to drill a series of holes directly into the mortar joints surrounding the damaged brick. Drill these holes very close together. This technique turns the solid mortar into “Swiss cheese,” significantly weakening its grip on the brick.
Next, take your cold chisel and your sledgehammer. Place the tip of the chisel into the holes you just drilled and tap it firmly. Work your way all around the brick until the mortar crumbles away. Do not swing the hammer like a baseball bat; use controlled, firm taps.
Once the mortar is loose, the brick should wiggle free. You might need to use the chisel as a lever to gently pry it out. After the brick is completely removed, use your wire brush to scrub the inside of the cavity. You must remove all the old, dusty mortar. If the cavity is dirty, the new mortar will not stick.
Finally, soak your new replacement brick in a bucket of water for about an hour before you plan to install it.
Common Pitfall: Be extremely careful not to let your chisel slip and chip the bricks next to it. Slow and steady wins the race here.
Mix and Apply the Mortar
Mortar is the glue that holds your home’s exterior together. Getting the mix right is vital for both strength and appearance.
Buy a pre-mixed mortar bag (Type N is the most common for standard exterior walls). Pour a small amount of the dry powder into a bucket or a mixing trough. Slowly—and we mean very slowly—add water while stirring with your pointing trowel.
You are looking for a specific consistency. The mortar should feel like thick peanut butter or a heavy cake batter. If you scoop some up on your trowel and turn it sideways, the mortar should stick to the metal without sliding off immediately. If it is too dry, it will crumble. If it is too wet, it will ooze everywhere and lack structural strength.
Before applying the mortar, lightly mist the inside of the wall cavity with a spray bottle. This prevents the dry, dusty wall from rapidly sucking all the moisture out of your fresh mortar.
Now, use your trowel to spread a generous 1-inch-thick layer of mortar on the bottom and sides of the empty wall cavity.
Install the New Bricks
It is time to put your new brick into its home! Remove your soaked replacement brick from the water and shake off any excess water.
You need to “butter” the brick. This means applying a thick layer of mortar to the top and side edges of the new brick, almost as if you were aggressively buttering a piece of toast.
Carefully slide the new brick into the cavity. Push it firmly toward the back of the wall until the front face of the new brick is perfectly flush with the old bricks around it. Some mortar will immediately squish out of the cracks—this is exactly what you want! It means the joint is full.
Use the handle of your trowel to tap the front of the brick gently. This helps settle it into the mortar bed. Grab a small level and place it across the new brick to ensure it sits perfectly straight and plumb.
For Veneer Walls: If your home uses a brick veneer (a thin aesthetic layer of brick over a wood frame), you may need to attach a small piece of waterproof lath (metal mesh) to the wood backing before applying your mortar bed. This gives the mortar something to grab onto.
Let the brick sit completely undisturbed. The mortar needs to set up slightly before you can make it look pretty.
Tool the Joints and Clean Up
After about 30 to 45 minutes, check the mortar. Press your thumb gently into the joint. If the mortar holds your thumbprint without sticking to your skin, it is ready to be “tooled.”
Tooling simply means shaping the wet mortar to match the aesthetic of the rest of your house. Look at your existing walls. Are the mortar lines flat and flush? Or are they curved inwards (a concave joint)?
Use a masonry jointer tool (or even a piece of curved pipe or a wooden dowel for concave joints) and run it smoothly along the fresh mortar lines. Press firmly to pack the mortar tightly into the cracks. This step is crucial because it creates a weather-tight seal that repels rain.
Once the joints are shaped, use your trowel to scrape away the large globs of excess mortar that have fallen onto the brick face. Wait another 24 hours for the mortar to dry significantly. Then, use a large, damp sponge to gently wipe the new brick’s face to remove any cloudy mortar haze.
Conduct a Final Inspection
Congratulations! You have completed the hardest parts of the job.
After allowing the mortar to cure for a full 48 hours, step back and inspect your work. Check the alignment one last time. Does the brick sit flush? Is it stable? Does the mortar color blend nicely? (Keep in mind that new mortar often looks a bit darker and will lighten as it fully cures over the next few weeks).
Once you are satisfied, you can pressure-wash the entire facade to make everything look uniform and brand-new. If you live in an area with harsh winters or heavy rain, consider brushing a clear masonry sealer over the repaired area for extra waterproofing protection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During DIY Brick Replacement
Even the most enthusiastic DIYers can stumble if they aren’t careful. When learning how to replace brick on front of house, avoiding basic errors saves you massive amounts of frustration. Treat this project like any professional process; it involves researching, editing your work, and putting in the sustained effort required to get it right .
Here are the most frequent mistakes homeowners make, and how you can dodge them:
- Rushing the mortar mix: We cannot emphasize this enough. If your mortar is too dry, it simply will not bond to the brick. If it is too wet, it loses its compressive strength and will wash away in the first major rainstorm. Take your time adding water.
- Installing mismatched bricks: Nothing ruins curb appeal faster than a bright, shiny new red brick shoved into a wall of faded, rustic, 60-year-old masonry. Spend the extra time scouring salvage yards if you have to.
- Forgetting to soak the new brick: Bricks are incredibly porous. If you install a bone-dry brick, it will violently suck the water out of your wet mortar, causing the mortar to crack and fail almost instantly. Always soak the brick first!
- Ignoring expansion gaps: If you are fixing bricks near windows, doors, or corners, remember that houses shift and settle. Ensure you aren’t packing mortar so tightly against a window frame that it cracks under pressure.
- Working in the rain or cold: Mortar needs stable temperatures to cure. Freezing water inside wet mortar will destroy it from the inside out. Always check the forecast.
Detailed Cost Breakdown and Expected Savings
One of the most satisfying parts of DIY home maintenance is keeping your hard-earned money in your wallet. Hiring a professional masonry contractor often involves high minimum fees, simply because it takes them time to drive to your house, set up, and clean up.
Let’s look at exactly how much you can save by doing this yourself.
Item DIY Cost Professional Cost
Materials (Bricks & Mortar) $50 – $150 $300+ (Includes markup)
Tools (Reusable for future) $50 – $75 N/A
Labor Fees $0 (Just your weekend!) $500 – $1,200
Total Estimated Cost (for ~5 bricks) $100 – $225 $800 – $1,500
By taking on this simple project, you are saving hundreds of dollars. Plus, those savings represent a massive Return on Investment (ROI). Investing $100 in materials to achieve a 7x to 10x boost in curb appeal is one of the smartest financial decisions a homeowner can make.
How to Boost Your Curb Appeal Even Further
Now that you know how to replace brick on front of house, why stop there? Your exterior walls look flawless, so it is the perfect time to elevate the rest of your entryway.
Combining your freshly repaired masonry with a few other quick weekend projects will make your home the absolute envy of the neighborhood.
- Paint your front door: A bold, fresh coat of paint contrasts beautifully with classic brick. Think deep navy blues, vibrant reds, or elegant sage greens.
- Upgrade your landscaping: Trim back overgrown bushes that might be scratching against your walls. Add some colorful flower beds or install charming window boxes right below your sills.
- Install a brick paver walkway: Now that you have leftover mortar and are comfortable working with masonry, consider installing a small brick walkway that perfectly matches your home’s facade.
- Update your exterior lighting: Swap out those rusty, dated porch lights for sleek, modern fixtures. Good lighting highlights the rich texture of your newly repaired brick walls at night.
If you love these ideas, be sure to check out our other detailed guides on budget home renovations and home exterior maintenance to keep your property looking its best year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When homeowners start researching DIY brick replacement, they usually have a few common questions. We have compiled the most frequently asked questions to help you proceed with total confidence.
How long does it take to replace a brick? For a beginner, expect to spend about 2 to 4 hours per brick, not including drying time. The most time-consuming part is carefully chiseling out the old mortar without damaging the surrounding wall.
Can I replace just the brick veneer, or is that harder? Yes, you can absolutely replace veneer bricks! The process is almost identical to the steps outlined above. The only difference is that you must be extra careful not to punch your chisel through the waterproof backing or the wood sheathing located behind the veneer.
What is the best type of mortar for front house repairs? For above-ground, non-load-bearing exterior walls, Type N mortar is the gold standard. It offers the perfect balance of flexibility and strength. If you are fixing bricks very close to the soil or on a retaining wall, you might want to upgrade to Type S mortar, which offers higher compressive strength.
Do I need a building permit for this? For replacing a handful of decorative or facade bricks, you generally do not need a permit. However, if you are rebuilding an entire wall, a chimney, or altering a load-bearing structure, you will definitely need to check with your local zoning office.
When should I finally give up and call a professional? You should call a professional mason if the wall is visibly bowing or leaning, if you need to replace large continuous sections (more than 10 bricks in a row), or if the bricks are structurally supporting a heavy beam or roofline.
