Getting a Broken Plastic Nail Out of a Brick Wall

Using Plastic Nails in Brick Walls

• If you want to use plastic nails in a brick wall, you first need to determine how much the item weighs that you'll be mounting to the wall and the correct length and diameter of plastic nail necessary to secure it. To hang pictures or decorations onto a brick wall, first drill a hole into the face of the brick then drive the plastic nail into it. Where necessary, use two or more plastic nails to support heavy items.

Pulling Out the Nails

• Successfully extracting a plastic nail from a brick wall is simpler to do than for metal. A metal nail is designed with a shank to grip the masonry and provide resistance against working itself out of the material. Pilot holes are drilled for plastic nails, so they slide right through the pilot hole without the same resistance as metal nails, which makes them easier to take out. Extract the nail by grasping the end with a pair of needle-nose pliers then turning it side to side as you pull. Friction can cause the brick to catch and tear the plastic as you pull it out so work slowly to avoid breaking the nail off in the hole.

Drilling Out the Nails

• You can also remove a broken plastic nail by drilling it out. Select a drill bit that is the same diameter as the nail or slightly larger. Position the bit on the broken end of the nail and set the drill speed to slow. The drill bit will follow the path of the nail hole previously drilled in the brick wall. Increase the speed of the drill, as necessary, to completely remove the nail from the wall.

Patching Nail Holes

• After you've removed the nail, you will need to patch the hole. Begin by hammering a brick chip until it crumbles into coarse powder. Mix masonry mortar per the label directions and add the brick powder until the mortar resembles the brick. Push the mortar into the nail hole until it is slightly overfilled. Rough up the surface of the patch with a wire brush to resemble the brick pattern.