How to install manufactured brick
veneers.
Manufactured brick veneer can turn
your ugly drywall into a timeless
focal point of your room.
There are
many benefits of using manufactured
brick veneers and thin man made
brick veneers. Thin manufactured
brick veneers weight considerably
less therefore don’t require
footing. Also, ease of installation,
availability of wide range of colors
and cost saving benefits are making
manufactured brick veneers a viable
choice.
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However, to fully appreciate
the outcome of your DIY
brick veneer project you
have to keep some simple but
important guidelines during
installation.
The following article will
outline the necessary steps
you need to take for a
successful manufactured
brick veneer installation.
The first step is
preparation.
In order to determine the
required square footage of
the manufactured brick
veneers needed, you have to
take some measurements of
the area you wish to veneer.
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Measure
the height and the length of the
wall in feet and multiply the
numbers. That
should give you the exact square-ft
you will need to cover your wall. If
you have windows or doors deduct the
area from the total square footage.
Measure the corners in linear feet.
One linear foot of corner pieces
would cover about 0.75sft. So the
number of linear feet of corners
should be multiplied by 0.75. That
amount should be deducted from the
total square footage of flat (not
corners) brick veneers. It is always
advisable to order some extra bricks
(5-10%) for cutting and possible
breakage.
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The next step is to
determine the type of the
wall you install your
manufactured brick veneers
on. If the wall is drywall
you have to take some extra
steps to reinforce it. There
are two ways to do this. One
is to install wire mess on
the top of the drywall
(adhered to the studs) and
put a fine layer of mortar
called screech coat. After
this set (in about a day or
so) you can install your man
made brick veneers directly
on the screech coat.
Applying the mortar can be
time consuming and messy. If
you wish to speed up the
process choose to install
cement backer boards
directly on top of the dry
wall. You do this the same
way as you would install the
wire mesh. 1/8th of an inch
backer boards with an inch
drywall screws attached to
the studs behind the wall.
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(You will
need a decent stud finder to locate
the studs beneath the drywall.) Once
the reinforcement is done, you shall
apply bonding agent on the top of
the cement backer boards. This will
ensure the proper bonding of your
manufactured brick veneers.
After applying
the bonding agent you can mix your
mortar.
I would advice
you to mix your thinset to a much
harder consistency than you would
for any other tile or natural stone.
The reason for this is to prevent
the thin manufactured brick veneers from sliding
down after you stick it to the wall.
We also add a splash of white
bonding additive to the mixture for
better overall performance. Keep in
mind that this is just the setting
material, the grouting process
require a different type of mortar.
The next
step is the layout.
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To
ensure that your brick
courses are going to be
level you should have some
type of a guideline. There
are two easy ways to achieve
this. One is marking
straight horizontal
guidelines for your
reference on each brick
course. Or you should have a
so called “story board” on
the two ends of your wall.
The story board is basically
a wood strip that is marked
out the perfect outlines of
each courses of your brick
veneer wall.
Shown on picture↓ |
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You
should also have a line and
two line block to hold the
string line on place. You
can spread the thin set
mortar on the wall with a
1/4th inch
notched trowel; in about a
foot in height (don’t spread
more because it will dry on
the wall and the brick
veneers are not going to
stick). And simply press the
brick veneers on the wall in
the thin-set. Wiggle it a
little, set it to your
string line and let it go.
The suction of the thin set
mortar will hold the brick
in place. |
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Note: Mix the
thin set in a thick peanut
butter consistency. Too soft
mortar will allow the bricks
to slide down. This is
important you don’t want to
miss this step.
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After installing all the
manufactured bricks in the
row (or course) you should
raise the line up to the
next mark on your story
board and keep going until
you reach the top of your
wall. Periodically stand
back a few feet from your
wall and verify that all of
the bricks are in place.
Adjust accordingly.
These steps will ensure that
the brick veneer wall will
be straight and level on
every course.If
you have corners, doors or
arched windows start with
them first.
You might need to do some
cutting around windows and
corners. A decent grinder or
a wet table saw will do it
just fine. Mark your
manufactured brick veneers
and cut it with the saw of
your choice. |
Quick tip:
After you reach the last four
courses underneath the ceiling you
should measure the distance between
your ceiling and the top of your
last course. It will help you to
determine the exact spacing of your
last brick courses. If you spaced
your brick courses the right way you
should end up with one full brick on
the last course. Never cut the last
course of your brick wall. It will
look unprofessional.
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Grouting:
The next step after
installing all of your
manufactured brick veneers
is grouting.
The most popular color for
grouting brick veneers is
grey. For this color the
usual S-type mortar is
satisfactory. In case if you
wish to see some different
color in your joints you
will have to mix the color
of your choice. This can be
done using the mixture of
white S-type of mortar and
simple sanded tile grout in
the color you prefer. |
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Quick tip:
It is
important to mix the colored grout
that will fill the whole entire wall
in one batch. If you are unable to
achieve this you should keep very
accurate measurements of your
ingredients that mixed the color of
your desire. Otherwise you could be
seeing differences in the tones of
your colors in your joint lines.
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Important:
Mix the colored grout that
would cover the whole entire
wall in one batch. If you
are unable to achieve this
you should keep very
accurate measurements of
your ingredients. Otherwise
you could be seeing
differences in the tones of
your colors in your joint
lines.
After
filling up the joints
between the brick veneers
you should strike it with a
concave tool and lightly
brush the area with a soft
brush.
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To apply
the grout you will need a grout bag
from home depot. I would suggest
cutting the bag a little more to
allow mortar to flow a bit easier.
The consistency of the mortar should
be rather wet. Fill the head joints
first and then all the vertical
ones. If your mortar becomes dry
enough to the touch you can tool it
either with a concave tool and a
brush or just simply cut the excess
mud off and over grout the joints
with brushing the surface even with
a soft brush.
Installing
manufactured brick veneers is
relatively easy. And if you are
keeping these simple guidelines in
mind during the installation, you
will have a brick wall that all your
friends and neighbors will envy and
admire.
Be the
envy of your neighbors. Don’t settle
for the ugly stucco for your house.
Our Miami
based company offers wide selection
of
manufactured brick veneers
and thin
cut antique old Chicago bricks
on reasonable prices.
If the
installation is provided by our
company, we offer free delivery In
the Miami Dade- Broward county area.
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