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View Full Version : Replacing or refacing brick platform


jameslrice
Sep 16, 2010, 06:43 AM
We have an brick platform in front of our house, basically a landing outside our front door. The two concrete steps leading up to it are crumbling and the platform itself has a few cracked bricks and generally looks rather dated. I want to have someone remove and replace the steps completely and also remove all the bricks on the platform and replace them all with new bricks.
I do not know the underlying structure of the platform. I'm assuming there is one layer of bricks on the exterior.

I had one mason stop by but he only wanted to wrap the entire platform in a new layer of bricks and I don't really like that idea as it would make the platform too wide.

Is it feasible to remove a face of bricks and replace them? Or will the old mortar bed make this difficult?

smoothy
Sep 16, 2010, 08:55 AM
Is the landing fairly small? Then it may be more practical for them to pour it as one piece. Otherwise you have a detached laning and detached steps that may subside at different rates. Plus the labor to pull brick, prep existing base for new bricks may excede the demolitions costs and the price of concrete to pour a new one.

KBC
Sep 16, 2010, 09:16 AM
Old mortar should be easy to remove.(depending on age and initial mix),the bricks that are still intact might be more of a factor in removal,but with the proper tools, knowledge and willingness(it IS labor!)anything is possible.

The base below the original landing might pose a problem,might not.It would depend on what it is made of.

I have poured new surfaces to smooth over old mortar and had exterior tiles installed for a new look to front stoops.

If the piece is square,perhaps a rounded end also installed to give it some added space for plants/ornamentation?