Concrete Patch on a Brick Exterior

Brick exteriors and brick veneers need to be repaired as age takes its toll on them. The pass through point for air conditioner hoses and other vent systems can deteriorate even faster than the rest of the structure. Check out this picture of my friend’s home. He was beginning to worry that bees were using this hole to set up a new hive.

It’s important to address small gaps in the wall before they get too large. If you repair a cracked joint early, it will reduce the likelihood of it growing larger as moisture seeps into the joint and expands.

You can find easy solutions like Great Stuff, a spray-in product that will expand to fill the gap. This will block the opening but won’t look good after long. Great Stuff turns brown over time (after which it doesn’t look so “great” anymore). A better solution is to using a concrete or masonry patch.

How to Apply Concrete Patch

First, clean out the area you working with. Dirt and debris create a poor application surface. An old paint brush will usually do the trick.

Spray a little water into the area to be patched. You want the surface moist but not pooling water. This step helps prevent your patch from drying too quickly, which would result in a weak patch.

Add water to the concrete patch powder and mix until you get a nice thick paste. It should be the consistency of heavy mashed potatoes. If it’s too soupy, it won’t stay on your wall; if it’s too thick, it will be hard to worth with and won’t adhere and harden to the underlying surface. Add more powder/water until your reach a thick, pasty consistency.

Work the patch around, filling all gaps. And smooth it out as it begins to set. Be sure to check the instructions for what size gaps you can patch and how long it takes to completely cure. This picture was taken just after the job was finished.

What do you think? What have you used to patch your brick or masonry? What tips do you want to pass along?