Repairing your brick chimney: Part 4. Repair and replacement of bricks

What do you do when bricks in a chimney are damaged or eroded? Using our Old House Project as an example, we cover what to look for, replacing an eroded brick, repairing a fractured brick, pointing with lime mortar, after care and why bricks have a frog.
Other videos in the series:
1. Introduction: • Repairing your brick c...
2. Flaunching and mortar fillets: • Repairing your brick c...
3. Repointing: • Repairing your brick c...
For further information on this topic, download our Technical Advice Note on fireplaces, flues and chimneys: www.spab.org.uk/sites/default...
Have a question about an old building? Phone our free advice line on 020 7456 0916, Monday-Friday 9.30am-12.30pm or visit our website for FAQs on caring for historic buildings: www.spab.org.uk/advice
With special thanks to Lynn Mathias.
Filmed at our Old House Project St Andrew's in Boxley, Kent by ‪@photography.tuition‬
Music: Ed Cook Sound

[@kape9004]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. You at the SPAB have my respect. Too many of our older buildings are demolished in favour of new buildings. Well done all of you.

[@spab1877]

Thank you for your kind comment!

[@johndeal1624]

Outstanding instructional video. I can't comment on the techniques since I am here to learn how to repair the top of my garage chimney (low height) but the video and audio are excellent making it very clear what you are doing.
Thanks for creating and posting this video!

[@spab1877]

Thanks John 😊

[@peterwalton1502]

Very informative video. When you have an old house these videos are excellent 👍

[@spab1877]

Thank you for watching! If you'd like more advice on caring for an old house please feel free to check out our website. www.spab.org.uk/advice

[@7eight1]

Great video! Thank you

[@spab1877]

Thanks for watching!

[@burner5673]

Excellent video. Very imformative.

[@spab1877]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ProfWisecrack]

Thank you!

[@spab1877]

Thanks for watching!

[@sushimamba4281]

Great skills and a great job.

[@spab1877]

Thank you for your kind comment!

[@johnnyfeher3412]

'frog.' I've heard many reasons it is called a 'frog', until i spoke to a very old brickmaker at Bore Place Handmade Bricks ,Kent. I was working on a 16th century barn conversion nearby and needed some 'Squint' bricks, (angled), for the job. This is what he told me. A circular trough in the ground (about 3ft wide and 2ft deep and 10ft in diameter ), was filled with the clay medium, water, sand, etc.. In the trough was a large circular stone, like a mill stone, A post in the centre had fixed to it a long wooden pole that joined the stone by an axel and that was fixed to a horses collar.
As the horse walk the trough the clay medium softened to become the 'Pug' (Bricklayers will know the term), for the brick material. The horse would leave his 'Frog Print ' (The underside of a horses hoof is called a 'Frog') in the clay, This word migrated to become the name for indent in a brick.
Hope that wasn't too long! I also worked under the auspices of SPAB through a man named Steven Rickards. A very knowledgeable Person!
John, (52 years in Masonry)

[@bc.oO0Oo.]

The actual term "frog" comes from the dutch word "kikker" Traditional brick making consisted of a wooden box with a "kicker" in the middle that was used to force the clay outwards to form the arrises

[@johnnyfeher3412]

No it doesn't. That's a Dutch name for moulding. Try better next time.

[@johnnyfeher3412]

No it doesn't. Kikker means FROG literally or CLEAT.

[@barryginder498]

Thank you for this

[@spab1877]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevincasson9848]

Talk about going over the top lol. Just chase brick out, and lob another one in.JOB DONE !!!

[@ironimp1]

This shows the SPAB approach which doesn't include 'lobbing in bricks'.

[@pauleohl]

What started as replacing one brick wound up replacing 25 bricks, by removing and replacing the 25, one brick at a time. Do I have that right?

[@kelseykalbacher3310]

what type of mortar did you use? thank you

[@spab1877]

Lime mortar.

[@seanmiller7298]

great job but i woulda smoothed out that mortar jeez

[@roymichaeldeanable]

I'm not builder but this looked like a crap job....I would be concerned about the poor condition of the whole chimney and the lack of maintenance....
There is no mention of the Lime content of the mortar so we can only hazard a guess
I think this guy needs to upskill his basic brick laying skill..

[@robertmcintyre4088]

what are you on about?

[@smoranable]

You ant a brickie

[@robertmcintyre4088]

What?

[@michaelburley2905]

HGM very good bricks 🧱 good job they donated 2.50 per brick