How to Restore My Brown Brick Bungalow

Examine your exterior for missing and broken bricks. Obtain replacement bricks that match the bricks on your house by visiting brickyards that sell reclaimed and salvaged bricks. Purchase extras to have on hand in case some bricks break during your restoration or at a later time.

Clean the exterior of your brick bungalow with a hose and a gentle stream of water. Avoid using a high-powered spray washer that can damage old mortar and bricks. Scrub any remaining stains or marks with a soft-bristle brush and a bucket of water mixed with a few drops of mild dish soap. Rinse away any soapy residue with a fresh stream of water.

Remove any crumbling mortar with a chisel and a hammer, gently tapping the broken mortar out of the damaged joints. Loosen and pull out any broken bricks. Use an angle grinder to remove stubborn bricks that need to be replaced. Brush the cleaned joints with your soft brush to remove small particles.

Mix a small batch of lime and sand mortar, following the package instructions. Add enough iron-oxide pigment to create a tint that matches your existing mortar. Replace any removed bricks by applying the mortar to the backs and sides of the replacement bricks and setting them firmly in place. Apply the mortar to the cleaned joints with a narrow tuck-pointing trowel, gently pushing the mortar into the gaps and wiping the excess of the edges of the bricks as you go. Match the depth and depression of the new mortar with that of the existing mortar, creating a look that blends with the rest of your bungalow.

Let the mortar dry until it feels slightly firm to the touch. Smooth down any irregularities with your pointing trowel. Create a weathered look in the new mortar by brushing it with a stiff brush.