Brick Replacement in Denver, CO
Not every brick problem is a mortar problem. When brick faces spall, crack through the body, or break away entirely, the brick itself needs to be replaced — and replacement done poorly is more visible and more damaging than almost any other masonry mistake.
Denver Brick Specialists has the sourcing knowledge, matching experience, and installation skill to replace brick so cleanly that you won't be able to find the repair.
When Brick Needs to Be Replaced
Spalling — when the outer face separates and flakes away, the exposed porous interior absorbs water even faster, accelerating the cycle
Through-cracks — a brick cracked through its full body has lost structural integrity
Mechanical damage — vehicle collisions, renovation accidents, and impact damage produce irregular fractures requiring replacement
Deterioration from incompatible mortar — hard modern mortar on soft historic brick transfers stress to the brick face
Severe freeze-thaw exposure — upper chimney courses, parapet walls, and north-facing walls show the highest rate of individual brick failure
The Brick Matching Challenge
Denver brick from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s comes in dozens of variations — different sizes, textures, colors, and clay compositions. Many were produced by local manufacturers that no longer exist. We approach brick matching with the same rigor we bring to mortar matching:
Precise measurement of existing brick dimensions (length, width, height, and joint width)
Color assessment in natural light at multiple times of day
Texture and surface finish evaluation
Sourcing from salvage suppliers, regional distributors, and specialty manufacturers
The Replacement Process
Extraction Without Collateral Damage
We use hand tools, oscillating tools, and patience. On historic masonry, this step is where careless contractors cause the most additional damage.
Mortar Formulation
The mortar used to set replacement brick must match the surrounding joint mortar in composition as well as appearance. A hard setting mortar in a soft lime-mortar wall creates a stress concentration that can crack the new and adjacent brick.
Setting and Pointing
Replacement brick is set with proper alignment, face plane, and joint width — then pointed with custom-matched mortar that matches the surrounding joints in profile, texture, and color.
