How to install thin sliced Chicago brick veneers.

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How to install thin sliced Chicago brick veneers.

Get the old and antique charm of the brick walls of the windy city of Chicago.

If you are pondering about installing thin brick veneers yourself the following article will walk you through the necessary steps needed for a long lasting and stunning outcome that will make all your friends and neighbors envy.

Nowadays I am more often asked what is the easiest way to enhance the look of a boring drywall. The options are practically endless but thin brick veneers are probably the most popular choice. There are companies that makes manufactured thin brick veneers but nothing comes to the real antique Chicago bricks.

Old Chicago bricks are an excellent choice both for exterior and interior applications. However, full sized bricks measure 2”1/4 X 4”x 8”. This size and weight is not always suitable for interior installations.

Old Chicago brick veneers are basically the same antique real clay bricks but were saw- cut to about a 3/8^th- ½ inch thickness.

These Chicago brick veneers were cut off of the sides of the full sized bricks. Thin sliced Chicago bricks have many advantages compared to the full bricks. These thin bricks weigh considerable less than the whole bricks, allowing installers to easily apply them on any solid structure without any footing. These lightweight thin Chicago bricks can be installed on masonry walls, stucco and even on top of drywall.

In this article you find installation instructions for old Chicago brick veneers.

Chicago brick veneers over drywall.

First I want to point out the extra steps necessary for installing Chicago brick veneer on a drywall and a wooden structure. On drywalls you have to install 1/8^th of an inch cement backer boards and fasten it to the studs with dry wall screws.

When Chicago brick veneers are installed on a wooden structure a water-resistant surface must be placed over the original framework to prevent moisture build-up and mold from rotting out the walls.

Wire lath installation: Begin at the right hand bottom corner of the wall

Leave the paper backing overlapping 1-1/2” on the sides and the top. The sheets should always be installed horizontal, perpendicular to the framing.

Fasten the wire lath with 1” screws. After installation apply a scratch-coat of mortar.

The Chicago bricks can be installed directly on top of mortar after it dried.

scrach coat under thin brick verneers

To install antique bricks on a solid masonry wall such as, bricks, block or stone you won’t need to undergo any major preparation. You will need a clean dust and oil free wall to begin with. The first step is to apply some blue bonding agent with a paint roller. Pour the bonding into a paint tray and dip the roller in the bonding agent. You can dilute the agent with some water for better coverage.

After applying the bonding agent you can mix your mortar. For the installation we use thin-set mortar. Mix your mortar to harder than peanut butter consistency. We usually add a splash of white bonding agent 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.

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The first step installing old Chicago brick veneers is the layout. Have a brick ruler handy to determine the courses you need to reach the ceiling without any cuts at the top.

Outline each course either on the wall or a storyboard. (It is nothing more that a piece of 1” wooden strip marked with your brick courses.)

It is important to keep your thin Chicago brick veneers dust free. It is essential for proper bonding of the bricks and a long lasting installation.

You can set your string line to this board and install your thin Chicago bricks to the top of the line. There are two ways to apply the mortar. One is to butter your bricks with it and the other is to apply the thin-set on the wall with a notch trowel. On the wall do not apply more that a feet up because the thinset dries fast.

Keep the head-joints equally sized and level all the way up. If you encounter with a shorter or longer brick veneer adjust accordingly.

Keep installing your Chicago bricks until you reach the top.

How to lay Chicago bricks

Periodically step back and look at your wall from a distance. It will let you pick out bricks that are sliding or out of the line. Adjust bricks accordingly.

Next step is the grouting. For this process you can use an inexpensive grout bag from your hardware store. If you are at the store pick up enough S type mortar mix to grout your bricks. Generally one 60 lbs bag would cover about 15 sft of bricks.

Mix your mortar to a much more watery consistency allowing the mortar easily flow from the grout bag. You can also cut the end of your grout bag to widen the hole for easier workflow.

After filling your joints you have to do some minor touch ups, such us filling up or tuck-pointing the joints with mortar. Don't let the mortar get too dry.

Get a concave tool from home depot. Try to do the tooling as you go up, after finishing every 4-5 courses. If you finished tooling the brick joints you have to brush it with a light whisk brush to smooth-out the surface of the mortar.

And that’s all. With some hard work and attention to details you can complete this Chicago brick veneer project like a breeze.

We are offering the following thin brick veneer products:

Antique old Chicago brick veneer.

Why would you settle for the ugly stucco on your house?

We have real old Chicago brick veneers in a wide variety of colors.

Manufactured thin brick veneers.

Manufactured brick veneers on discounted prices. Many colors available.

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