ᐅ Brick slips on existing brickwork

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are moving into my parents’ house. However, my wife doesn’t like the existing red brickwork at all and wants to make some changes. I agreed because I’m glad she’s willing to move into the house.

We have original red bricks from the 1970s in good condition. There have been some extensions here and there using similar bricks, so those areas would need some cladding anyway.

Now for my question: Is it possible to apply new brick slips directly onto the existing brickwork? And if so, how would that work? Also, would it be possible to plaster some parts (e.g., the gable) directly over the old bricks?

I’m not asking about whether it makes sense, just about the feasibility.

Thank you very much for your help!!

Julijul schrieb:

I’m not asking about whether it makes sense, just whether it’s feasible.

That’s probably for the best. However, I would advise against attempting it — it’s more complicated than it seems and understandably very rarely done (to be exact, I’m not aware of a single documented case), which could actually make it an interesting topic for a publisher.

Seriously though: my alternative suggestion would be to paint the existing brickwork and either paint or renew the mortar joints. But “overlaying” brick slips directly on top of each other would be just as poorly executed as offsetting them or using a different pattern. What exactly don’t you like? Please share photos of the current situation and your desired outcome.

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Here is a front view of the house. The plan is to renovate the right extension with facing bricks and continue it toward the front door at approximately the same height. The brickwork above might then be plastered.

Maybe someone has a completely different idea!

She doesn’t like the red brick.

Best regards

1970s classic red matte brickwork without any frills. It lasts forever. I don’t see any rational reason to change anything here.
If you want or need to add thin facing bricks, you should also install insulation underneath. Above that, just EPS (expanded polystyrene) and plaster without facing bricks. It will still cost more than you will ever save, but at least it is effective. A large-scale facade renovation according to the energy saving regulations (building permit / planning permission) cannot be carried out without additional insulation on any house built before 1978 anyway. That might be a good argument for your wife to leave it as is.

My recommendation: Leave it as it is and maybe replace the windows (if they are already old) with ones that have slim mullions matching the front door. That would look really stylish.

In the Netherlands, you often see brick buildings where the bricks have been painted, frequently white. Combined with modern, stylish windows, this can look extremely trendy.
I can also easily imagine a light gray color. A quick image search online will certainly help.
It is frustrating when you have a highly durable facade but simply don’t find it attractive. Personally, I wouldn’t like it either; I’m on the same page as your wife. Red brick from the 1970s isn’t everyone’s preference. However, I agree with the others that covering it with a new facade or removing it entirely would be a bad idea.

Julijul schrieb:

The plan is to renovate the right extension with brick slips and continue this at roughly the same height toward the front door. The brickwork on top may then be plastered.

There won’t be an appropriate height to create a clean break between the two surfaces. Also consider the note

dertill schrieb:

After 1978, large-scale façade renovations must include additional insulation according to energy-saving regulations for all houses built before 1978.

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Julijul schrieb:

She doesn’t like the red brick.

What she does not want is not a sufficient basis for planning. That’s why I also asked for a photo example of what she would approve: would she prefer the bricks in pebble gray, sand beige, or aubergine, for example?

MadameP schrieb:

In the Netherlands, you often see brick buildings where the bricks have been painted, often white. Combined with new stylish windows, this can look very modern.

The windows still look too new here; I would probably only add an external film to them at most. I could imagine a quick and attractive result by repainting the entire façade “color-wise” while covering the mortar joints over the main surface (but not between the top and bottom edges of the upper floor windows—in that area, only paint the bricks, masking or coloring the joints in a different tone).

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