How to Remove Mortar From Bricks
- 1). Place a brick on it's side, on a sturdy flat surface. Make sure that the surface will support the weight of the brick and the activity that will be taking place to remove the mortar from the brick. If the surface is not sturdy there is a risk that the brick and all tools that are being used will fall or slip.
- 2). Locate and begin using a sharp chisel and a hammer to remove the mortar. Place the chisel where mortar meets the brick. Starting from left to right, tap with force to separate the mortar from the brick. Try not to scratch or break the brick while performing this process.
- 3). Locate muriatic acid. This is a form of hydrochloric acid. Contact your local hardware supply store to see if they carry it. Try soaking the brick for a short period in the muratic acid to remove any mortar that was not removed during the chiseling process. Clean the entire brick so that when it is reused, the sides will be even.
- 4). Stack the clean bricks in an area where they are level, making sure that the piles are not too high. You do not want to risk the pile tipping over, falling and injuring someone. Use the newly cleaned bricks for your next project.
- 1). Locate a muriatic acid. This is a form of hydrochloric acid. Contact your local hardware supply store to see if they carry it.
- 2). Apply a generous amount of muriatic acid to the mortar that you want to remove from the brick. When the muriatic acid is applied to the mortar, tiny bubbles will appear where the mortar is smeared to indicate that the muriatic acid is reacting to the mortar paste and is starting to dissolve it into a liquid solution.
- 3). Wait 5 minutes and then use a scrub brush to gently scrub the area, loosening the mortar from the brick.
- 4). Rinse the brick with water, removing the mortar and the muriatic acid. Saturating the brick and mortar with water during this process will be better in the end.
