Hope the client has a sense of humor?

My cousin once stopped talking to our neighbor for six months over borrowed gardening shears. The guy left them out in the rain and they rusted shut. It was about the principle, not the ten dollar tool.

Yeah that's a classic mistake. Did he use one of those cheap electric ones or a big gas model? The pressure setting makes a huge difference on old, soft brick. You really need a wide fan tip and keep it moving, never hold it in one spot.