Bricklaying

Comments

1. Heidi says

   October 9, 2014 at 10:42 am

   Looking good! Did you have to rip out a lot? Old bricks or new bricks?

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2. Bob says

   October 9, 2014 at 11:14 am

   I removed all the bricks that made up the actual steps, a few on that face near the steps, and about a third of those on the side that faces the street. I also removed several bricks that had been drilled for the railing posts.

   The source of the deterioration started with the drilling for the railing posts not being well enough sealed. Water invasion helped move things along. Concrete blocks inside the steps themselves were reduced to a mound of ruble.

   Since the original bricks were old, definitely used, recycled from unknown origins, I used them and supplemented for breakage with about 30 purchased (old, definitely used, recycled) bricks, also of unknown origin and irregular sizes.

   The remainder of the work was re-pointing everything and making sure there’s no room for water leakage anywhere.

   A new iron railing is being fabricated to fit the original holes. Yes, I’ll want to see it sealed right, but don’t plan to inspect it in 50 years to see if it held up.

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