Supplies

• Bricks can be removed by using a margin trowel; however, a flat-head screwdriver or pry bar will work exactly the same way. For bricks that need to be reshaped, a mason's hammer will do the job, while a rubber mallet will be needed to pound the brick back down flat. For bricks that need to be cut, a masonry blade that fits onto a circular saw is ideal but rarely needed for small repairs. Of course, if cutting or chipping bricks, protect your eyes with safety glasses. Also, high-grade sand to hold the bricks in place and repair unevenness will also be needed.
  
  

Removing the Brick(s)

• Using the tool on hand (trowel, screwdriver or prybar), remove the first brick by working the flat end of the tool down into one end of the brick and lifting up. This will lift only one side at a time, so move back and forth between each end and shimmy it up until it comes free. Removing the first brick is always the hardest, so from here on out, the rest of the offending bricks should come up easily.
  
  

Replacing the Brick(s)

• Smooth out any sand or gravel that was disturbed, and add more if you need it. Pack it down tightly by using the flat side of the brick to smack it into place. If you do not pack the sand tightly enough, the brick will settle and you will have to do this whole process all over again in a few days or weeks.
  
  Continuing with the pattern you have, replace the brick(s), occasionally tapping them into place with the rubber mallet to tighten up the rows. If a brick breaks, Gary Kleier from Kleier Associates points out, "forget it.... A broken brick here and there will do no harm."
  
  

Finishing

• The last step is to fill in the joints or spaces between the bricks with sand. Using your hand is easier and more efficient, but a broom works just as well. Brush the excess sand away. Wait a day or two and let the sand settle. If necessary, pour more sand in to create the final look.