The term “retired bricklayer” often brings to mind a scenario where a retiree has retired from the workforce, taking with them their decades of experience and expertise. Retirees like to call themselves retired because it gives them time to enjoy what they’re doing instead of worrying about what they haven’t got time for now. It’s an attractive idea because, after all, most of us think of retirement as a period in which we have less discretionary income and more work. For some people, retiring means finding ways to keep their homes free of clutter, while others prefer to travel the world or do charity work instead of worrying about how to pay their bills. In these types of cases, retirement may well mean knowing how to recycle bricks!
There are many avenues available for recycling old brick. If you have an old brick wall, you may decide that it is worth renovating it to create a new focal point. You may decide to add a spiral staircase, put in lighting, or perhaps build shelves along the walls. In any case, the objective is to make the space useful and decorative at the same time.
The first thing you will want to do is figure out exactly how much old brick you have lying around. You can get a free estimate from a building surveyor to determine the amount of usable material. Usually, architects recommend that you recycle brick no more than five percent of the way through its life. The rest should be recycled into other building materials. Of course, there are circumstances in which you may have to discard an old brick. This will depend on whether the brick is damaged in poor condition, or if it simply doesn’t meet code.
Once you have the total amount of old brick you can reclaim, you will need to take it apart. If there are large pieces of brick, for example, you may simply demolish them and save the space they occupy. Large, heavy pieces of brick may need to be removed by crane. Once the old brick has been cleared away, be sure to check the entire space for anything that could use another home. For example, sawdust from drywall stores often makes a great space for a garden shed.
Once the debris is gone, clean up the area. This is likely to include sweeping and vacuuming. Any protruding nails or broken asphalt shingles should also be swept aside. If possible, it may be easier to replace the shingles and nails, rather than sweep them away. In addition, there are several innovative cleaning products available for homeowners that can help get old brick spots sparkling again.
Be sure to place something durable underneath the structure as well. Retired brick can be extremely resilient, but it is not immune to weather to the outside. If you put a sheet of plywood or lumber below the structure, you may find that the brick can breathe without allowing moisture to collect. This can cut down on damage during extreme weather conditions.
To keep things neat, mark where bricks are missing and which area they should be placed. If you have an old brick fireplace, you may find that the bricks are in good condition and just need to be relocated. Clean out the fireplace, using any absorbent sponge or rag. Then, take the existing structure and stack it on top of the old brick. Be sure to anchor the bottom of the structure, using drywall screws.
Retired homes often provide more usable space than newly constructed homes do. When you add a garden to the rear of the house, you increase the overall square footage of the house by quite a bit. If you have the room, you may want to install an atrium like space, which will allow you to enjoy the outside while still indoors. If you live in an older home that has no plumbing or electrical work, you may be able to work with what you have. The possibilities for your remodel are only limited by your imagination.