Brick removal

[mopardave]

Gents.....I need to take down part of a boundary wall to widen my driveway. I've never done this before but have had some horrendous quotes so I'm taking it down. What is the best way to remove hand clamped bricks....I want to use them again and most of the wall is staying up so I need to use a bit of finesse....I can't go steaming in with a wrecking ball!!! Has anyone got any top tips on removing bricks and cleaning lime mortar off them? I was thinking SDS drill with brick removal bit but any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks gents.

 

[Jonny]

SDS can be pretty brutal if you’re reusing the bricks. I always use a hammer and bolster. You need surprisingly little force to break the mortar. Then use a smaller bolster to clean the bricks after.

 

[Loz]

x2 for bolster, just gently work your way along the top of each row, working your way along, without anything on top of them you’ll be suprised how easy they popoff, so much so you’ll do better with an assistant to pass them to.

 

[DaveyB]

Never had an issue with using an SDS with a chisel bit. Once you break the first one of the row out, if you then go in from the end and lift down the line of the row they lift up no damage.

 

[mopardave]

That's great gents.....things are made a little more difficult because there are some bloody great cap stones on top of the wall that need to come off first......proper hernia gear!!! Mrs MD thought it was hilarious when I suggested I look out for an old hospital bed on fleabay so I could lift stuff up and down.....I thought it was a great idea!! I always like an excuse to buy a tool or three so I might treat myself to an SDS anyway.....but take it steady with a combination of both drill and bolster. It's lime mortar so does that make any difference? I've never done anything like this before so much appreciate the tips gents!

 

[richi]

As you have stated lime mortar the working from the top down is the best way(lime mortar is considerably weaker than a cement mortar).You can also use a drill on the vertical joints with an 8mm masonry bit

 

[richi]

Sorry,meant to write from top down with hammer and bolster

 

[DaveyB]

If you are finding it particularly hard going you can always needle-stitch the mortar line first with a drill bit. That’ll make it even easier to get the mortar lines to crack where you need them to.
You could always give Daz Nixon a buzz, get him to do it for you!

 

[Roadrunner]

Take it you mean hand cuts. I've done it before knocking an old outhouse down. Like they say start at the top ad work down useing a bolster and lump hammer. You might ed up with a few broken but that awlays happens.

 

[mopardave]

If you are finding it particularly hard going you can always needle-stitch the mortar line first with a drill bit. That’ll make it even easier to get the mortar lines to crack where you need them to.
You could always give Daz Nixon a buzz, get him to do it for you!

He'd have it done in an afternoon (3m x 1.5m)! The Christmas decs are already up in the station.....guess who?!!

 

[DaveyB]

He'd have it done in an afternoon (3m x 1.5m)! The Christmas decs are already up in the station.....guess who?!!

Good to know he never changes, big kid....
However, setting him loose with a sledgehammer is not a good idea, did he ever tell you the story about the sledgehammer that hit him on the head when he was a farm labourer?

 

[Fish]

4"/5 angle grinder with a diamond blade
Cut through the motar beds and then pry each course up..
Once brick is out, place on floor or stand (don't hold it) and clean remaining mortar with diamond disc.

 

[Pauly]

Oh that was low !

 

[DaveyB]

4"/5 angle grinder with a diamond blade

Nah, 4.5” is for wossies, real men swing a 9”!

 

[Fish]

Post a pic of a real man then.. scarface!.

 

[DaveyB]

Oh that was low !

Don’t need to, I see one in the mirror every morning when I have a shave. Besides the chicks dig a scar, especially when you tell them you got it rescuing babies and kittens from a house fire, single handedly, without Fire kit or breathing apparatus cos there just wasn’t time.

 

[Fish]

The only thing you rescue now pal is the pen falling off the desk!.

 

[DaveyB]

The only thing you rescue now pal is the pen falling off the desk!.

Oh you know me too well!!! Darn you Mr Fish.

 

[mopardave]

Good to know he never changes, big kid....
However, setting him loose with a sledgehammer is not a good idea, did he ever tell you the story about the sledgehammer that hit him on the head when he was a farm labourer?

No he didn't!! But he did subject us all to an Oxfordshire F &R video.....yes video....of Daz starring in a Hazmat exercise!! He could talk a glass eye to sleep on the differences between a Mk7 Lynx helicopter and a Mk9....bless 'Im!! You're right about not letting him loose with a sledge hammer!!

 

[mopardave]

Nah, 4.5” is for wossies, real men swing a 9”!

ressspecc!