How to Restore an Exposed Brick Wall

Combine equal parts vinegar and tap water into a bucket or other receptacle. Use a wire brush and the vinegar solution to scrub clean the dirt and efflorescence from the brick. Efflorescence refers to the white spotting on brick that results from minerals leaching out of the brick. Continue to scrub until you completely remove the efflorescence.

Wash the brick wall with water and a soft nylon brush to remove any remaining vinegar solution. This may require multiple applications to saturate the brick.

Take note of any areas in brick mortar that have cracked. Use a chisel and hammer to gently remove the old and cracked mortar sections to a depth of 1/2 inch. Use a wet brush to remove any dust and small mortar particles.

Insert the premixed mortar mixture in between the bricks using a pointing trowel. Smooth the mortar once it is between the bricks by using a brick jointer so that there is no excess mortar.

Apply masonry sealer to the brick and mortar using a brush one to two weeks after you inserted the mortar.