How to Replace an Entire Brick Wall

Removal

• Removing a brick wall is a labor-intensive job. Even if the wall is severely damaged, portions of it may still be intact. To demolish the wall safely, work in sections from the top down. Use a masonry saw or steel chisel to break up bricks before removing them by hand. For larger sections, or once the wall is low enough not to pose a falling danger, use a sledgehammer to break it up into manageable pieces. Carting away the heavy bricks you remove adds to the task. Before you can begin building a new wall, however, the old wall may be torn down so that you have a clean foundation to build upon.

Foundation

• You may be able to use a brick wall's existing foundation when you build a new wall. The foundation for a brick wall is typically a flat, level cement base that rests on a bed of sand or gravel. With the old bricks removed, you can measure the foundation and inspect it for cracks or other signs of damage. If the foundation is damaged, you'll need to remove it and pour a new one. If it's intact, however, you can chip away mortar to reveal a smooth surface for your new wall to rest on.

Load-Bearing Walls

• If the brick wall you want to replace is part of your home, it might be a load-bearing wall. This requires special steps to ensure that your home is structurally sound despite removing the old wall. You can install a beam over the wall site to support the ceiling and roof or build a post inside your home that holds up the same amount of weight as the brick wall. Once the new wall is in place, you can remove these temporary supports. Replacing a load-bearing wall usually means hiring a structural engineer to map out the process in a way that is safe and won't cause major structural damage to your home.

Reconstruction

• Rebuilding a brick wall is similar to laying a new wall. In both cases, the foundation must be smooth and level. Use new bricks if you're building a load-bearing wall. Even with a freestanding garden wall, use new bricks toward the base and salvaged bricks from the old wall near the top, where they have less of a structural purpose. Work with wet mortar before it dries and shield your wall from sun and rain while the mortar cures.