Mon 30 Jun 2008
We’ve had an email from Valerie:
Recently, the uneven brick front steps to my house were knocked out in order to put in a sidewalk. Now I have single bricks, pieces of bricks, chips of bricks, and sections/blocks of several bricks mortared together. Almost all of the bricks still have mortar on them. Can anyone suggest a practical use for these?
We salvaged some bricks when a friend removed a 1970s style brick fireplace recently* and plan to use them to make a small (two-brick high) wall to hold back some shrubs off our path - the shrubs will hang over the wall so it doesn’t really matter what the bricks look like. We also have a random old brick on top of our compost bin to stop the lid blowing away. I hear that they’re also useful to put at the bottom of garden tubs - to stop them being as easily stolen/blown over.
But they’re mostly just ideas for full bricks? What about bits of bricks and chips?
* “recently” is an utter lie. It was about two years ago and they’ve been sat in our garden since then. We’re in a tidying the garden phase at the moment - hence the recycling bin thing I wanted ideas for the other week - though so maybe they’ll get used soon…
(Photo by jazza)





Nicole
June 30th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
What about this?
http://www.robomargo.com/window5.jpg
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Delusion
June 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
The mortar can be easier knocked off them with a hammer etc, and there are many people who can use reclaimed bricks so you could always put them on freecycle.
For uses, I’d definitely go with creating a wall, edging for your borders or feature (such as a wishing well!) in your garden.
You could even dig them into the lawn so the surface is still showing, keeping them tight against each other to make a path
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Cat
July 1st, 2008 at 4:35 am
The chips make a great table mosiac. Try to keep them all about the same size height wise (knock off a bit with a hammer if they’re too tall) and add them onto the top of an old table. Top with a cover of glass or plexi if you want it totally flat, or leave it a little bumpy if you don’t mind a little rocking of the things that you put on there. Great way to re-furbish an old or found table too.
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Jennifer
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Put the chips at the bottom of a plant pot (before you put in the soil/potting medium) to increase drainage.
If the chips are sharp-edged, use them as a barrier around plants that slugs like to eat (the edges will deter the slugs as they’ll get sliced up trying to cross the barrier).
For the bigger brick pieces/whole bricks, make a base to raise a planter off the ground to give heighth and visual interest to a grouping of plant pots.
Put on the floor in your garage, like a curb, to mark how far in you want to park, to avoid going too far in or not far enough.
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Gulia
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Incorporate them into big stepping stones.
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Gulia
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Use them for garden sculpture.
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E
August 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I know this is a dull suggestion but most council recycling places have a bin for bricks and other building rubble!
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mary lou felton
September 6th, 2008 at 10:31 am
How can i build a window seat ?
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mary lou felton
September 6th, 2008 at 10:33 am
How can i make a window seat.
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