Learn how to remove mortar joints and leave them like new! 2026

Learn how to remove mortar joints and leave them like new, this is a technique that will help you a lot when it comes to leaving a much more refined finish on your masonry work.

How to repair mortar joints easily

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Procedure

Step 1: Analyze the mortar
Remove two or three small pieces of existing mortar to analyze. In a well-ventilated area, preferably outside, and wearing solvent gloves and safety glasses, pour a small amount of muriatic acid into as many glass jars as there are mortar samples.

Step 2: Lime and sand mixture

Use different colors of sand to mix one part lime to three parts sand until you get a thick consistency. Try to match the batches to the original color of the mortar, keeping in mind that the color changes when dry.

Step 3: Grind the mortar

Wearing a balaclava (a knit hood that keeps dust from your hair and face) and respirator, begin grinding the existing mortar with a 4" angle grinder, to about 1/4" deep. Remove excess powder after grinding.

Step 4: Prepare and apply the mortar
Next, moisten the brick to prevent the brick from “evaporating” water from the new mortar, and prevent the mortar from cracking after it dries.

With the appropriate color selected, prepare the mortar in the amount necessary (Image 1) to complete the restoration project.

Add a small amount of mortar to the end of the trowel. Place the trowel against the edge of the brick, then use the pointing tool to place the mortar into the crack (Image 2). Work to the side: Never pull the pointing tool forward. (Use a smaller trowel for vertical joints, but apply mortar the same way.)

Step 5: Remove excess mortar

Once the mortar has set, approximately one to three hours, use a steel brush to remove excess mortar from the face of the brick. Be careful not to hit the newly identified joints.

To achieve the same texture as the original mortar, use a damp cloth to lightly tamp the mortar joints.

About a week later, use a solution of muriatic acid and water to wash the face of the brick to remove any residual mortar haze.

TIPS:

Set a time to check the brick. Start by inspecting the exterior brick for signs of moisture, then move to the interior walls.
Remove plant growth as close to the surface as possible.
Clean the “weep holes” at the bottom of the masonry. These allow moisture to drain.
Remove any efflorescence – white powdery residue – from the surface of the brick. Use a chemical cleaner and a steel brush.

Get more information at Perfectidea.com and on our Facebook for more. Learn how to remove mortar joints and leave them like new.

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