Remove Moss and Repair Cracking Brick Mortar

Learn how to remove moss from brick steps and repair cracked mortar from between bricks. Find out how a bleach solution will kill moss and allow you to replace the mortar between bricks.

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LESLIE: Well, we’ve got Edward in New York who’s got a problem at his house. What’s happening?

EDWARD: Hi, I have a set of steps – they’re brick – and the mortar in between the bricks is – I’m losing part of it. I also have moss on there and I’m thinking about doing something with mortar but I need to find out whether you’d recommend something like TSP or bleach or what and how to rinse it so that I can do it. (INAUDIBLE)

TOM: Alright, well if there’s no threat of you getting this on plants I would mix up one-third bleach, two-thirds water.

EDWARD: Yeah.

TOM: I would saturate the moss. Let it sit for a good 15 or 20 minutes, keeping it nice and wet, and then scrub it off. That will kill the moss. It will kill any of the plant growth or the roots that are left behind. And then you have to make sure this is really, really dry before you start thinking about remortaring it.

LESLIE: Mm-hmm, and you want to remove any of the mortar joints that are sort of crumbling and falling apart. You want to get all that out of there so you’ve got a nice, clean area.

EDWARD: OK, sounds good then.