Concrete stairs substrate preparation and layering
I need to pour small stair entry into my basement, about 4 steps and it is narrow, with a brick retention wall on both sides. I was going to first evenly grade and pack the dirt, then put gravel, then...
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Cinderblock cmu masonry question
I'm replacing a 7ft. Basement Wall with 10" block. We tried to demo carefully as to save some interlocking blocks in the corners. A few broke resulting in a few cuts having to be made.My question is,...
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What type of mortar should be used for small mortar repair on a 100 year old...
I've read that one should use a special type of mortar with old brick houses because they expand more - portland mortar vs soft lime.The recommendation from the NY Landmarks Commission states:Use a...
View ArticleHow many holes can a masonry drill bit make?
Please excuse my ignorance, I'm fairly new to DIY. I keep reading how masonry drill bits wear down quickly. As I'm preparing for a day of serious hammer drilling dozens of holes into concrete walls at...
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How can I seal/stabilize crumbling concrete blocks from the 1930s?
This is a pillar supporting an enclosed porch roof on a 1930s Craftsman in Northeast US. The porch is usually unheated during winter but it is entirely enclosed and not subject to rain/snow.As you can...
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Safely drilling into a stone fireplace?
I have a stone fireplace in a cabin that I'd like to mount a television screen on. While I’d love to pay someone a reasonable fee to do so, the cabin is in a location where contractors are few and far...
View ArticleWhat compressive strength are historical Kreischer yellow brick?
I've asked a variation of this question before around using soft mortar for historical brick - and I've seen variations of recommendations on using Type O mortar or some other hydrated lime...
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Reinforcing concrete wall of outdoor hot tub?
I just bought a home with a hot tub/pool in the backyard, and the hot tub is slightly elevated over the pool, and designed so that water will flow over the side of the tub and into the pool below (kind...
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Are bare stacked bricks in crawlspace wall an issue?
I’ve recently had structural issues in my crawlspace addressed by a foundational company (installed floor jacks and wooden support beams).However, after inspecting the space myself, I’ve recently come...
View ArticleBrick veneer falling away from house
I already suspect that I'm not going to like the answer, but I'll ask anyway.My home has a screen porch, and in this section, the brick facade is starting to fall away from the house. It was caused, I...
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Can top of brick wall be level?
I understand it is preferable that brick wall tops be sloped so that water drains off instead of permeating into the wall causing accelerated decay. One of the reasons I would like to leave it flat as...
View ArticleIs mortar sufficient for securing an electrical box in brick?
She-who-shall-not-be-disobeyed is asking for a new electrical outlet on the back side of the house. Being the Good Boy that I am, I am willing to oblige her.If I were to surface mount the electrical...
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Tile repair project: what am I working with here? What's the best way to get...
I’m working on a few projects around the house right now and one of them is fixing tiles that have come loose in the entryway over the years.To get a better idea of what I’m working with, I wanted to...
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How should I solve/approach the cracks in my garage's cinderblock walls?
I just bought a property with a detached garage and it looks to have cracks in the walls. It has no drainage on the roof, which is probably causing settling issues. I plan to add gutters to the garage,...
View ArticleHouse being built but I think the brick is poorly done [closed]
So our house is being built and the brick just went up on the house (it isn't structural). I personally feel that the job was done extremely poorly. I don't know much about masonry but from my...
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How can I tell if this is a gas or wood burning fireplace
From what I've been able to determine what's pictured is a gas log lighter for wood burning fireplaces. The prior owner did some questionable stuff so I don't know if it was originally gas and he...
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How to repair missing masonry on top of a mantel
There is a hole in the masonry on top of a mantel. This is above a working fireplace. The masonry is attached to a plywood (or sheetrock?). There is a plug on a stud for power for TV. Next to the plug...
View ArticleFrost buildup on interior chimney stone and steps to address the problem?
Frost has built up on the gas fireplace chimney stone that intersects with the NE wall and the ceiling.Background info:This is the living room of our bungalow. The ceiling directly above that frost...
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Shore up stone foundation cap at house sill
I need to shore up the crown of a quarry/limestone foundation where the foundation meets the sill. This sill runs parallel to the floor joists and most of the damage is located between two windows.I...
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What is this construction material called, please?
It's used by some agency called 'Quantum Tech HD' on youtube, as a logo. I asked there for advice months ago but have received no response. Does someone here know? I'd be most interested in Canadian...
View ArticleFound red brick powder near the floor in the basement after a few months --...
https://imgur.com/a/DyiorstSee album link above for pictures.Seems like my basement bricks are disintegrating. I see red powder near the walls and the bricks of the basement seem flaky. When I pressed...
View ArticleHow do I adhere real cut stone the wall behind my wood stove?
We are trying to adhere real cut stones to the wall that is behind our wood stove. The area is 7 Foot long by 5 foot high. We are adhering the stones to Durarock, cement board. We have placed lath on...
View ArticleWhat type of adhesive should I use to reattach cap stones on a sea wall?
I need to re-affix the stones. The flat-topped concrete flat-stone-capped seawall is in the atmospheric zone, but it takes a beating from waves during storms. It has no rebars protruding. I'm...
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New home stone facade moisture issue?
I purchased a newly constructed home 6 months ago. I've begun noticing the stone facade on the front porch seeping moisture. The porch is covered, and the seeping happens independent of rain or...
View ArticleIs it reasonable to do masonry veneer work when the temperature is 30-40°F?
Everything I find online says you shouldn't work under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It's currently 35 to 40°F (0-5°C) and the mason says this is okay to veneer the outside stone on.One other mason we've been...
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What's the best way for me to demolish & replace this existing walkway? I...
My concern is that I will accidentally damage the foundation of the house as I approach the front door.Can I take a jackhammer to the entire walkway, right up to the front door? What's below that first...
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What kind of siloxane coating should I use on historical brownstone steps...
I'd like to reduce the amount of water soaking into my 120 year old brownstone steps and want to use something that won't run afoul of the landmarks historical commission or change the look in any real...
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How to block an inaccessible hole in a masonry wall?
I have vermin getting in, we believe through a hole gnawed in the mortar between an old brick wall and a newer blockwork wall. Ordinarily it would just be a matter of sealing up that at the exterior,...
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Finish siding after deck removal
I recently lost my job when I was going to get this repaired but now funds are limited so must do myself. I need some help on what the best course of action would be though if anyone is willing to...
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How do I tell if my house is brick or brick veneer?
I live in a brick house, and am interested in understanding whether it is brick or brick veneer, as a way to understand what kind of risks it (and we) may face during an earthquake.I hear that brick...
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