Thin Brick Finishes: Installation and Application

Michelle Garcia | January 12th, 2022

Thin Brick has long been one of the best choices for finishing in Colorado and most parts of the country. The idea of applying and installing Thin Brick may sound complicated at first and may cause people to lean towards a cheaper or less attractive alternative. This article contains the detailed steps on all that is needed to apply and install Thin Brick in your building.

Materials needed for application and installation of thin brick 

• Brick
• Brick on Webb
• Corner brick
• Corner Brick on Web
• Tile cutter
• Narrow notched trowel
• Tile adhesive bucket
• Wet saw (optional)
• Mortar
• Loctite power grip
• Bender Board/ tile spacer/ wood dowel rope

Steps in applying Thin Brick

• Measure out the spacing of the bricks by laying them against the wall to ensure all the pieces will fit without traces of silver pieces on end. You could start with a half-sized brick and alternate from there so that the seams connect in the middle of the Brick above and below it.
• Create a line pattern on the back of the Brick by applying a thinset with the notched trowel. These line patterns on the Brick help prevent the infiltration of air bubbles. It also ensures the same amount of thinset is applied to each Brick.
• Now, apply the bricks to a level surface. You could also install a temporary straight edge with scrap wood if necessary.
• Push the Brick to fit appropriately, apply acrylic thinset to the next Brick, use your spacer to ensure you have equal spacing between the bricks, then apply the second Brick. Using brickwebb sheets, you wouldn’t have to space the bricks manually as the fiberwebb helps hold the Brick in place; hence, no need for a spacer. If you have single bricks sliding, you can use the Loctite power grip to help hold the bricks firm.
• Repeat this same process for the entire row
• Place your spacer above the row and begin the second row
• If you started with a half brick in the first row, alternate the next row by using a full brick this time.
• Ensure the thinset is thoroughly dried before you remove the spacers and apply the grout

Cutting the bricks

The easiest way to cut a brick is using the manual tile cutter. Start by marking the Brick where it needs to be cut. Align the mark up with the scoring blade on the tile cutter. Press down firmly as you score the Brick with the blade, then press the flat part against the Brick. If you did this properly, the Brick should snap on the line you scored.

This method is perfect if you want a straight cut, but you may have difficulty scoring and snapping accurately if you are cutting bricks less an inch. If any cuts are larger than one inch, the manual saw does a perfect job.

If you have a wet saw, use it to cut the bricks along the line; if not, you can mark out the bricks and take them to Home Depot, where they’ll help you cut them for free.

Cutting corners or angles

The easiest technique to achieve cutting angles is creating a template brick out of paper:

• Trace the Brick on a piece of scrap paper
• Cut out the paper rectangle
• Position the paper in the space where the Brick will go (in the wall) and include where the spacer would sit.
• Fold the paper along the angle
• Trace the folded paper onto the Brick
• Cut the Brick on the line

Grouting

Once the blocks are properly dried, the next step is to grout. To prepare the grout:

1. Add less than one cubic inch of water into a five-gallon bucket.
2. Gradually add the powdered mortar into the bucket and use a power drill and the grout mixing paddle to stir the mixture to achieve a pancake-like texture.
3. Be careful not to make it too runny as that will cause a mess, and if it’s too thick, squeezing out the grout bag will be difficult.
4. Once you’ve achieved the right consistency, scoop it into the grout bag, making sure it is kinked off at the tip.

It’s now time to apply the grout on the bricks. Apply the grout generously to stick out a little further than the Brick, then allow it to dry for fifteen minutes or thereabout. When properly dried, you can use the end of a paintbrush or your fingers (protected with gloves) to mash the grout between the bricks. Ensure you have your space taped off and a drop cloth running down because this process could be very messy. 

Warning: Never use your raw fingers to squish the grout in between the bricks. If necessary, apply sufficient grout to the spots that are chipping out. To create a smeared effect, you can also use a sponge to wipe some of the grout on the surface of the bricks to create a lighter shade.

Sealing

This one is optional, and it depends on where you are putting the brick wall. You may want to seal off the Brick and mortar. These are highly porous materials and are susceptible to stains.

Finishing

There are a few things you can do to your finished Brick. You could use a wet tile sponge to clean out any areas with grout on their surface. Ensure you’re using a clean sponge and avoid contact with the joints to prevent the grout from smearing.

You could paint the Brick with masonry-approved paint. An elegant choice will be an all-white or all-black as it looks all-natural and a beautiful sight to behold. After this, you should pause for a minute and enjoy the view of the beautiful brick wall you’ve just installed.

Thin Brick Installation and Application: why It stands out from the rest.

Thin Brick is a lightweight masonry veneer applied on the exterior walls of homes and commercial buildings to give them a traditional brick appearance at an economical cost and in an environmental-friendly manner. 

Most homes and commercial buildings prefer the Thin Brick finish not just for its beautiful looks, but it is by far more durable and requires less maintenance than that of most other finishes, and it is very affordable. 

Thin Brick, also called Thin Brick veneer, is perfect for interior and exterior installation. We’ve listed the basics of applying and installing Thin Brick on walls. Take time to understand each of the concepts listed above. If you’re not too confident of your ability to install them perfectly onto your building, have an expert over to guide you through the process once again to help you achieve an aesthetically pleasing finish on your wall.

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