If you're looking to give your living room a bit of a rustic or industrial makeover, learning how to riemchen kleben is a total game-changer. It's one of those DIY projects that looks incredibly professional once it's finished, but it doesn't actually require you to be a master mason. Basically, you're taking thin slices of brick—known as riemchen or brick slips—and sticking them to your wall to create the illusion of a solid brick structure. It saves space, costs way less than building a real wall, and honestly, it's pretty therapeutic once you get into the rhythm.
I've seen a lot of people get intimidated by the idea of "tiling" a wall with bricks, but it's much more forgiving than ceramic tiles. Since bricks are naturally a bit irregular, you don't have to worry about every single millimeter being mathematically perfect. In fact, a little bit of character usually makes it look more authentic.
Getting your gear together
Before you even think about opening a bag of adhesive, you've got to make sure you have everything ready. There's nothing worse than being halfway through a row and realizing you've run out of spacers or that your bucket is too small.
First off, you need the brick slips themselves. Make sure you order about 10% more than you think you need. Why? Because you're definitely going to break a few while cutting them, and it's always better to have a leftover box in the garage than to be three bricks short and find out the next batch has a slightly different color.
As for the "sticky" part of riemchen kleben, you'll need a high-quality flexible tile adhesive. Don't go for the cheapest stuff you find; you want something that grips well so the bricks don't slide down the wall while you're working. You'll also need a notched trowel, a spirit level (this is non-negotiable), a bucket for mixing, and either some specialized spacers or even just pieces of rope to keep your joints even.
Prepping the surface like a pro
The secret to a wall that doesn't fall apart three months later is all in the preparation. If you're trying to riemchen kleben onto a wall that's covered in old, peeling wallpaper or greasy kitchen residue, you're going to have a bad time.
Strip everything off until you're down to the bare plaster or drywall. If the surface is really porous, give it a coat of primer. This stops the wall from sucking all the moisture out of the glue too fast, which gives you more time to wiggle the bricks into place. Also, take a moment to check if the wall is flat. If there's a massive bulge or a dip, it's worth smoothing it out with some filler first. It'll make your life a lot easier when you start laying the bricks.
The actual work: how to riemchen kleben
Now for the fun part. Start by drawing a level line across the wall, maybe one or two rows up from the floor. Don't trust your floor or your ceiling to be straight—they almost never are. By starting with a level line in the middle or bottom of the wall, you ensure that the entire project doesn't end up looking like it's sliding downhill.
When you start to riemchen kleben, use the "buttering-floating" method if you want the best bond. This just means you spread the adhesive on the wall with your notched trowel, and then you also smear a thin layer on the back of the brick slip itself. It's a bit more work, but it ensures there are no air gaps behind the brick.
Press the brick into the wall with a little twist. You'll feel it "suction" into place. If you're using spacers, pop them in now. If you're using the "old school" rope method, you just lay the rope along the top of your first row and sit the next row of bricks right on top of it. It keeps the horizontal lines perfectly parallel without having to fiddle with hundreds of tiny plastic crosses.
Sorting the pattern
Don't just grab bricks from one box at a time. Brick slips are made from natural materials, so the colors can vary slightly from box to box. To get a natural look, open three or four boxes at once and mix them up as you go. This prevents you from having a "dark patch" or a "light patch" on one side of the room.
Also, remember the "stretcher bond." This is the classic brick pattern where the vertical joint of one row sits right in the middle of the brick below it. Whatever you do, don't line up the vertical joints. It'll look like a weird grid and ruin the whole "real brick" vibe.
Dealing with corners and edges
Corners are usually where people start to sweat, but it's not that bad. If you bought special corner pieces (which are L-shaped), use those first. They make the wall look like it's made of solid, thick bricks. If you're just using flat slips, you'll have to do some mitre cuts or just overlap them carefully.
For cutting the bricks, a small angle grinder with a diamond blade is your best friend. It's loud and it's dusty, so do it outside if you can. If you're working indoors, keep a vacuum cleaner nearby because brick dust gets everywhere.
The finishing touch: Grouting
Once you've finished the riemchen kleben phase, you need to let the whole thing dry for at least 24 hours. Resist the urge to touch them! After they're solid, it's time for grouting.
This is the part that really transforms the wall. The color of the grout you choose will completely change the look. A dark gray grout gives an industrial, modern feel, while a light sandy grout looks more traditional and rustic.
Use a pointing trowel or a grout bag (which looks like a giant cake-decorating bag) to fill the gaps. Don't worry about being too neat at first, but don't let the grout dry on the face of the bricks either. Once the grout is "thumb-print hard" (meaning it's firm but you can still dent it with a finger), use a jointing tool or even a piece of old garden hose to smooth out the lines. Then, take a stiff brush and flick away any excess.
Keeping it looking good
One of the best things about deciding to riemchen kleben is that it's a very low-maintenance choice. Unlike a painted wall, you won't see every little scuff or fingerprint. However, if you've put these bricks in a kitchen or a high-traffic hallway, it's a smart move to apply a stone sealer.
The sealer acts like a transparent shield. It stops the bricks from soaking up grease or water and makes it much easier to wipe them down if someone splashes their coffee. Just make sure you choose a "matte" sealer unless you want your wall to look strangely shiny.
Common pitfalls to avoid
I've seen a few DIY disasters in my time, and most of them come down to rushing. The biggest mistake is not checking for level often enough. Every three rows, put your spirit level on the wall. If you're slightly off, you can adjust the next row by a millimeter or two to fix it. If you wait until the top of the wall, you're stuck with a slanted masterpiece.
Another tip: watch the temperature. If you're working in a room that's freezing cold or incredibly hot, the adhesive might not set correctly. Aim for a normal room temperature and keep the windows closed while the glue is drying to prevent it from cracking.
In the end, taking the time to riemchen kleben yourself is incredibly rewarding. Every time you walk into that room, you'll be able to point at that wall and say, "Yeah, I did that." It's a bit of sweat and some dusty hair, but the result is a high-end look that'll stay stylish for decades. Just take it slow, keep your lines straight, and enjoy the process!