How to Seal a Pop Faced Brick Interior Wall

Brick, though durable, is a porous substance. A pop-faced brick wall has spots of mortar that appear to have bubbled and popped in joints. This is caused by mortar with too much water during or just prior to freezing temperatures. The joints pop as the water in the mortar expands during freezing. Sealing the brick is necessary to prevent other moisture issues from damaging and disintegrating the solid structure over time.

Drop cloth
Rubber gloves
Goggles
Bucket
Muriatic acid
Chisel
Hammer
Trisodium phosphate
Scrub sponge
Hair dryer
Mortar sealer
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Set drop cloths down to protect flooring and furniture. Open windows and doors to vent the room out while working.
- 2
  Put on rubber gloves and goggles, then prepare one part of muriatic acid to 10 parts of water in the bucket. Add the acid to the water to prevent splashing acid on your clothes or face.
- 3
  Dip the sponge in the muriatic acid solution. Wipe popped joint mortar with the acid. Let it absorb for a couple of minutes and gently chisel away any uneven mortar not flush with the wall.
- 4
  Rinse the sponge thoroughly and clean the acid off with clean water.
- 5
  Mix two parts of trisodium phosphate with five parts of water. Scrub the wall clean to remove any dirt, grease or grime accumulated over the years.
- 6
  Dry the wall with a hair dryer to expedite the process and prevent water spots from forming on the bricks. Allow the bricks to dry completely.
- 7
  Paint the sealer on with a brush, wait for it to dry according to the manufacturer's label, then apply a second coat.

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