Extreme How-To – September 2019

masonry walls because it creates

a strong structure and requires

minimal cutting. Plastic spacers

can assist with keeping the grout

lines even. Work your way up the

wall, row by row, brick by brick,

until you have completed the

installation.

GROUTING AND SEALING

THIN BRICKS

Allow the thin brick to dry for 24

to 48 hours before you begin to

apply grout between joints. If you

prefer thick grout lines, use a trow-

el to scoop grout into the lines. For

smaller grout lines, use a grout

float to fill the lines. Both methods

leave excess grout on top of the

bricks, which can be removed with

a damp sponge. Once the grout

has dried overnight, you can seal

the brick and grout to keep the

porous materials from soaking up

spills and staining.

There are three general meth-

ods of applying sealers to thin

brick surfaces. The first (and most

common) method is using a roller

brush and paint roller tray; second

is with a paint brush and bucket;

and third is with a professional

sprayer. Homeowners and do-it-

yourself enthusiasts have the

option of selecting two types of

sealers—penetrating and film-

forming. Penetrating sealers soak

into the brick, leaving most of the

surface texture and original color-

ing intact. Film-forming sealers,

such as acrylic or polyurethane,

create a slick, shiny coating over

the top of the brick, making the

brick appear darker in color. It is

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