Junk Removal in ,

How to Tear Out a Brick Planter

Brick is one of the most versatile and aesthetic types of building material. It can give a structure a more

sophisticated look and is easy to clean with a pressure washer or even a garden hose. Homes with

equipped with brick planters are either free standing structures or attached to the front exterior. These are

great to plant flower or even vegetables. Over time, however, bricks will come loose and compromise the

integrity of the whole planter. If you don’t want to replace the bricks and gain a bit more space, you can

tear out your brick planter.

How to Tear Out a Brick Planter

This job is a very simple one, but will take quite a bit of time to get it done. You’ll need leather gloves, a

shovel, a chisel, hammer, and sledgehammer to break apart your brick planter. Gather these items

together and put them near the planter.

Brick is one of the most prized exteriors for homes because it’s so attractive and easy to


of a brick wall at its most elastic (and weakest) point: the mortar joints. –The

Family Handyman

If you have an irrigation system inside the planter, turn the water supply off first before you begin. You’ll

have to be careful not to break the line and work around it until you can cap it off. Follow these steps to

tear down your brick planter:

  1. Partially empty the planter by shoveling out about a third to half of the soil. Start along theinterior of the planter wall to have ample room to work. You might consider shoveling it out completely so

    all you have to do later is to sod the area.

  2. If the brick planter is attached to your home, start at the joints where it meets the exterior wall.Using a chisel and a hammer, chisel the mortar joints away, being careful not to cut into the exterior


  3. After the joints are broken free, you can then use your sledgehammer to break the walls of theplanter apart, starting at the top from the outside of the structure, and working your way down. Do not

    start hammering at the bottom because the wall might collapse and harm you.

The mortar joints will likely begin to crack and the bricks loosened from their place as you take down the

first section of the planter. If this happens, there will probably be large sections of bricks that remain

mortared together. Break those large sections up into smaller sections so you can lift them.

Disposing of Brick and Mortar Debris

After the planter is torn down completely, you can rent a truck, fill the bed with the brick and mortar

debris, take it to the landfill, unload the truck, and then pay a disposal fee, or, you can just call a junk

removal service and have it picked up on-site and hauled off.

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