When a housebrick gets cracked (frost, subsidance and being whacked by a heavy object are all possible causes) the crack will allow water into the wall. Therefore you need to replace the brick. This is actually quite a simple task that you can do yourself.

If it is just the outer face of the brick that has flaked off, you could just remove the brick you have already got, turn it round and reinsert it. Otherwise you will need to get a new brick. Do try and match the look of your current brickwork or you will forever be seeing the obvious 'wrong' brick in the wall.

To remove a brick You will need to use a hammer action drill and a number 6 Masonry bit.

Drill as many holes as possible through the mortar surrounding the brick you want to remove. Try to avoid drilling the bricks themselves. Once you have cleared most of the mortar the brick should come loose. You may need to use a hammer and chissel on any stubborn bits of mortar, but ingeneral you find that the brick comes away fairly easily at this point. So, pull out the brick and pull any remaining mortar out. Do not push the waste mortar into the cavity (if it is a cavity wall.

To put a new brick into the hole, first lay a bed of mortar to the bottom and sides using a masonry trowel (4 to 8 inch trowels seem easiest).

Splat mortar onto the top and sides of the brick and push it into the hole. Clean up using the side of the trowel.

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