Repair crumbled brick walkway - DIY Chatroom

timcsi · 10-27-2009, 06:42 PM

I have a small backyard brick walkway. The bricks and mortar are crumbling(old house). The walkway and crumbled bricks look just like this (except mine has no concrete steps and no support wall) :
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/askt...119018,00.html

Assuming no structural issue with the walkway - just need to know the correct procedures to repair it :

- chisel out/vac out loose bricks and mortar

- bought Sakrete Top N Bond concreate patcher :
http://www.sakrete.com/products/prod...oncretePatcher

- do I need to buy concrete bonding adhesive and coat the old mortar/bricks with it or I just need to spray the old section with water ?

- mix up concrete patcher with water and build layer of mortar and put bricks on it, repeat until I reach the top and fill all crumbled bricks

- at this point do I need to worry about curing the newly patched section, i.e. do I spray it wet every day for 5 days ? What is the proper procedure after the last step ? BTW the area is covered so rain doesn't get to the walkway but sun does.

Thanks.

Bob Mariani · 10-28-2009, 08:01 AM

Brick joints use mortar no concrete for the joints. So concrete patcher has nothing to do with this repair. Why are the joints bad? Poor substrate? poor drainage? If so these issues must be addressed first. To keep the joints from cracking prematurely you could slow the curing time by covering with a wet burlap and mist it a few days, but all this is not necessary unless it is very hot during the curing period.

timcsi · 10-28-2009, 09:24 AM

What do I buy to use as the mortar ?

They cracked overtime before we bought the house probably from rain, not sure. But now the whole area is covered up so no worries on water anymore.

Bob Mariani · 10-28-2009, 10:44 AM

premixed mortar can be bought at the same supplier you found your premixed cement.

timcsi · 10-28-2009, 03:07 PM

Thanks, I just bought the 25lbs mortar mix box from HD.

Do I need to buy bonding adhesive solution and coat it on the existing mortar/bricks ?

Bob Mariani · 10-28-2009, 03:43 PM

no. might be good to wet the joints with a sponge so the old bricks will not soak all the water out of the mortar before the mortar cures