How to Restore an Outdoor Brick Fireplace
Restoring an outdoor brick fireplace becomes necessary after a few decades of exposure to the elements. While these brick fireplaces do not rust, the bricks will in time become cracked, chipped and may develop holes in the masonry. The restoration process will require a few simple masonry tools, but does not require previous knowledge or experience.
What you will need:
- Wire brush
- Metal scraper
- Hammer
- Masonry chisel
- Bucket or trough
- Mortar mix
- Jointing tool
- Masonry trowel
- Circular saw with masonry blade
- Use a wire brush firmly but not too vigorously to remove loose mortar from the fireplace surface. Scrubbing too hard will crumble the good mortar.
- Use a hammer and chisel to remove any loose or cracked bricks. Remove the surrounding mortar to loosen the bricks and then pull them out to restore them.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and mix a batch of mortar in a small trough or bucket. Mix only a small batch at a time since the mortar hardens quickly. For repairs done on the inside of the fireplace, use a heat-resistant mortar mix.
- Use a mortar bag with the mortar mix and while squeezing the bag, apply the mix to the empty spaces and joints between the bricks. Use a masonry trowel and a jointing tool to blend the surface of the wet mortar to the old mortar so that old and new mortar exactly match each other in shape and design.
- Use a masonry blade with a circular saw to cut bricks to fit into odd shaped spaces. Use only fireproof bricks for placement on the inside of the fireplace.
- Place bricks in empty places in the fireplace. Apply mortar to the bottom of the space on top of the brick below, in the same thickness as the mortar of the older joints. Put the brick in place, paying attention to the thickness of the mortar applied to the other three joints around the bricks. Restore outdoor brick fireplace wall in all gaps using this technique until the entire wall in intact.
- Allow the restored outdoor brick fireplace to dry overnight. Use a wire brush and a metal scrapper to remove the excess mortar from the bricks.