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- 1). Remove all old siding. Strip the wall down to its basic wood sheathing. Refurbish any windows and doors to conform to the wider dimensions of a brick facade. Pound in all nails in the sheathing. Repair any damaged wall elements by replacing sheathing. Get the wall free of any debris or protrusions that might interfere with the brick facade.
- 2). Build a brick ledge the length of the wall, a 4-inch-wide concrete base for the first course of brick (this sometimes is poured as part of a foundation; if one exists, skip this step). Dig a trench with a spade 4 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Fill it with 4 inches of gravel, then 4 inches of concrete. Smooth the concrete with a mason's trowel and use a level to make sure it is level for the length of the wall. Let the concrete cure three days.
- 3). Start laying brick at the bottom of one end of the wall. Stretch a string line between stakes at each end of the wall and level it with a line level to make a guide for the brick work. Place the first brick with 1/2 inch of mortar on the bottom and inside end. Set it in place firmly in the mortar and add a second brick, also mortared on side and bottom. Keep mortar joints at about 1/2 inch.
- 4). Lay more bricks until the first course on the ledge is complete, check it with a level and move the string up about 4 inches. Start a second course with a half-brick at the end, cut in half with a mason's saw. Put the cut end to the inside of the wall. Install the second course of bricks to the other end, then use a finishing tool -- a steel device with a convex end -- to shape the mortar between the bricks into a concave that will shed water. Add brick ties -- metal straps that nail to the wall with tabs to fit in mortar joints between bricks. Place ties about every 2 feet horizontally and vertically.
- 5). Add courses, mixing fresh mortar as needed. Don't mix more mortar than you will use in about half an hour to keep it from drying out. Mix mortar according to directions on the package but to a consistency about that of whipped potatoes, which will stand on its own but is fluid enough to spread easily. Scrape off any excess mortar on the face of the brick with the point of the trowel. Finish mortar joints every couple of courses. Take breaks at the end of a course; it may take a couple of days to complete the wall. Use a wire brush to remove any dried mortar from brick faces.
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