Brickwork Repair in Orpington: Matching Bricks and Removing Mortar
Cleaning Bricks Without Damage
When I carried out this brickwork repair in Orpington, I made every effort to clean and reuse the original bricks. It’s not always easy. The old mortar can be tough to remove, and knocking it off often risks cracking or breaking the bricks.
I used hand tools like a chisel and hammer, and sometimes a stiff wire brush, depending on how stubborn the mortar was.
Matching Bricks As Closely As Possible
Even after saving most of the original bricks, matching replacements proved tricky. You might expect bricks from the same supplier to be identical but in reality, they often vary.
On this job in Orpington, I found subtle differences in:
Colour
Texture
Surface marks
Slight size variations
I aimed to get as close a match as possible. When a perfect match wasn’t an option, I spread the replacements across the area to help them blend in better.
Tips If You’re Doing Brickwork in Orpington
If you’re tackling a similar repair at your own property in Orpington, here are a few things I’ve learnt:
Work carefully – rushing increases the risk of damaging bricks.
Keep extras handy – you’ll need spares if any break.
Match in natural light – comparison is best done under natural light.
Spread out new bricks – don’t cluster them in one spot.
My Approach
I take care with every repair, especially on jobs like this one in Orpington. I work brick by brick, keeping as many of the original ones as possible, and doing my best to match any that need replacing.
Want help with a similar job around Orpington? Let me know I’m happy to talk through what’s worked for me.
