How to remove and brick up a window

The main bathroom of the double brick home had two windows. The one above the vanity was never opened and left no wall space for a mirror.

 

1. Remove the window over the vanity and fill the hole remaining in the outer skin with recycled bricks.

 

2. Build a made-to-meaasure bathroom cabinet with mirrored doors and install it in the recess left in the inner skin of bricks.

 

Clean mortar off bricks onto a mound of sand on the ground to absorb hammer vibration and prevent bricks from breaking use a lump hammer and bolster to chip off themortar then clean up using  a skutch hammer.

 

Make a seriesof cuts in the joints of the sill belowthe window. Break out a brick from the centre then remove the remaining bricks one at a time using a lump hammer and bolster, keeping them intact to recycle for the wall.

 

Use a hammer drill and fl at chisel bit tobreak away the remaining mortar, ensuring chunks don’t fall into the brick cavity. Cut the window flashing away with a utility knife.

 

Use a 100mm angle grinder fittedwith a diamond blade to cut the mortar joints around the half bricks on the sides.

 

Start at the top of the sides and use a hammer drill with chisel bit to break away the half bricks, taking care not to damage any of the full bricks above and below. Clean away excess mortar before removing the next half.

 

Lift and remove the sliding sash half of the window then use a reciprocating saw with a metal blade to cut the metal ties on the sides between the frame and the bricks. Take out the frame intact if possible, otherwise cut it in half with a hacksaw to remove.

 

Tap brickie line pins into the mortar joints either side of the hole with a stringline as a guide for the first course of bricks. Mix mortar in a wheelbarrow to a creamy consistency and spread it along the base course using a bricklaying trowel.

 

Butter the ends of each brick and lay the rows, moving the stringline up after completing each course and checking the vertical joints are aligned with the original brickwork using a spirit level. As the mortar hardens sponge down the brickwork and use a mortar rake on the joints.