| Subject | Date Asked |
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| block brick construction | 9/4/2008 |
Q: We need a reference to an excellent mason and mold person to assess our damages and discuss ...
A: Where are you located? Servicemagic.com prescreens contractors and should be able to help you find ...
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| marble mosaic | 9/3/2008 |
Q: I am tearing out the old 6" quarry tile on my 1953 hearth and replacing it with highly polished ...
A: If the brick is rough, you can use thinset or a repair mortar like Ardex AM100. If it is smooth, you ...
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| cultured stone | 9/3/2008 |
Q: Can cultured stone be applied directly over sheet rock? There is so much conflicting information on ...
A: I like Georgia Pacific's tile backer. It is blue on one side and is the easiest backer I have ever ...
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| cultured stone | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Can cultured stone be applied directly over sheet rock? There is so much conflicting information on ...
A: I never would install directly over sheet rock. The easiest way is to screw a hardibacker like ...
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| installing manufactured stone to exterior wall | 9/1/2008 |
Q: I purchased my manufactured stone and type N mortar mix from a local brick company. Without reading ...
A: Try tugging on the stones after a few days and see how well they stay. Sand is mostly to add ...
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| concrete walks | 8/24/2008 |
Q: The concrete walkway between the curb and the front of our church (downtown) is about 60 feet by 24 ...
A: I know that Quikrete and Ardex both make products to do what you want you can check their sites to ...
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| Clay paver problem | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I have a clay paver walkway. I just put in polymeric sand for the joints. Unfortunately the clay ...
A: There is Miracle Cleaners and Sealers work good. You need to check the specs to get the one that ...
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| faux stone repair | 8/23/2008 |
Q: one of my stones fell off, in order to repair it, should I break of the mortar on the wire mess that ...
A: I would break off or grind off the mortar on the stone but you can leave the mortar on the wire ...
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| speed block | 8/23/2008 |
Q: I live in kansas and I am trying to find a source that carries a speed block. My question to you is ...
A: You may try Midwest block and brick. You can use quikrete fast wall or another surface bond cement ...
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| brick home with chimney | 8/22/2008 |
Q: I purchased a home that has some sort of a leak on the wall where ceiling and wall meet directly ...
A: You can try a few different sealers or a paint like drylock over the entire brick of the chimney. If ...
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| porch slab pitch | 8/21/2008 |
Q: Our porch slab is not allowing rainwater to drain away from the house; the water congregates into a ...
A: I can see that there are low spots because the water standing in puddles. The other way to tell is ...
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| cement porch repair | 8/21/2008 |
Q: My front stoop has three corners that have broken off. I would like to repair these what is the best ...
A: I have never adhered concrete pieces to concrete. For what the epoxy would cost and the trouble of ...
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| Window brick in. | 8/21/2008 |
Q: I'm in the middle of a remodel and need to brick in a window. I am trying to make the window brick ...
A: Use a grout bag. They look like big pastry bags sold by brick and stone tools. You will have to ...
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| cement porch repair | 8/20/2008 |
Q: My front stoop has three corners that have broken off. I would like to repair these what is the best ...
A: It depends on how big of a repair you are doing. You can clean the area very well then apply a ...
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| Crack line in a new home | 8/19/2008 |
Q: We are currently building a new home. It is being rocked in a TexasMix stone. The masonry workers ...
A: I have not done that one my stone work in new construction. I have had cheap and poorly manufactured ...
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| pavers | 8/18/2008 |
Q: Do I have to coat the pavers used on top of my front entrance steps? How do I remove the dust that ...
A: If they are natural stone, you do not have to coat them. I would ask the place you bought the ...
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| pavers | 8/18/2008 |
Q: Do I have to coat the pavers used on top of my front entrance steps? How do I remove the dust that ...
A: Pavers can be used anywhere you want a hard solid surface and can but a solid base under. Pavers ...
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| pavers | 8/17/2008 |
Q: Do I have to coat the pavers used on top of my front entrance steps? How do I remove the dust that ...
A: You can use a clear concrete sealer on them. A hand pump sprayer or other paint sprayer is the ...
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| porous brickwork and damp | 8/17/2008 |
Q: I have a turn of the century brick built house, C1900. One wall is showing internal wall ...
A: Usually, the outside row of bricks is the most porous and the bricks should be harder and less ...
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| pavers | 8/16/2008 |
Q: Do I have to coat the pavers used on top of my front entrance steps? How do I remove the dust that ...
A: If a wet rag did not work, try a little dish soap and water. Be careful not to use something too ...
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| Discontinuing a window well | 8/14/2008 |
Q: We have 4 basement window wells. One leaks pretty badly. We had some heavy rain yesterday and the ...
A: If you are ready for a some work, I have a great solution for you. You need to dig out and lay ...
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| Structural concrete block support | 8/8/2008 |
Q: I'm building a firepit out of cinder block that includes a hollow box structure that will fit a ...
A: You can build a form the size and shape you want the roof and pour your concrete in the form and ...
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| decorative brick wall | 8/6/2008 |
Q: My in-laws live in north Florida. The air conditioners in their sub are all camouflaged by an "open ...
A: A good brick supply company like Old Castle or Adams Products Company should carry them if you are ...
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| patio tiles | 8/4/2008 |
Q: Our front entrance patio needs to be re-tiled, primarily because it is allowing rainwater to form a ...
A: The form is a good idea. On the inside of the form, you can chalk lines for your concrete to have it ...
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| Mortar for old handmade bricks | 8/4/2008 |
Q: We recently moved a late 1700s log cabin to our property here in NC to preserve it. We had had ...
A: To be true to NC, you can use a mortar made with crushed sea shells but not really necessary now a ...
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| masonry blcok wall- retaining wall? | 8/2/2008 |
Q: i just want to let you know how aprreciative I am of your services. It takes a special type of ...
A: Is this wall connected to anything else or the driveway? If it was a retaining wall built before or ...
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| ugly exterior | 7/31/2008 |
Q: Dan, We are considering buying a foreclosure in Utah that is very nice inside but has rock and ...
A: You can paint it or you can acid stain it. Both are time consuming and take some delicate work to ...
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| curved paver sidewalk | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I am having problems laying pavers for a curved sidewalk. Any suggestions on a starting point or ...
A: I would start at your highest point and work downhill. You want a little bit of a slope to let water ...
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| Stone Patio | 7/30/2008 |
Q: I have a natural stone patio that is 8 years old. It is looking dingy. I have power washed it in ...
A: I would say a pressure washer but it may hurt the grout. You can get what they call an acid brush ...
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| cement | 7/24/2008 |
Q: How can I fix or fill in the gap between my house and the cement driveway? I have about a half inch ...
A: If you do do not care if it matches the color exactly you can use a repair mortar it comes premixed ...
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| Crack in front wall | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I have recently noticed a crack running from the top following the mortar and through 2 facing ...
A: I am not sure exactly what you are asking. The cracks come from a few different reasons. Incorrect ...
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| Foundation Block Wall | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I have a problem here. I have a section on my block foundation that I think used to be a stoop that ...
A: Replacing a few cinder blocks is not to difficult if you are up to some manual labor. You can get a ...
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| cement mix | 7/19/2008 |
Q: what is the correct mix of sand and cement for laying concrete blocks or bricks i was allways on the ...
A: I normally use 250 to 280 lbs of sand per 80 lbs of mortar mix. Each brand of mix should have mixing ...
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| concrete | 7/17/2008 |
Q: Dan, I had just installed about 4yds of concrete in a backyard in (4) 8'x8' sections in(1) section ...
A: It was good to have it poured in the 8x8 sections to prevent cracking. The peeling could be a few ...
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| masonry bits | 7/17/2008 |
Q: http://www.dewaltpowertoolsonline.com/Accessories/Percussion-Drill-Bits.html Can these bits in ...
A: We have drilled through concrete many times without a hammer drill but it was always using a corded ...
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| Landscape blocks | 7/16/2008 |
Q: Don, My retaining wall of 4"x8"x12"blocks was glued with PL landscape block adhesive. I need to ...
A: PL says that you may be able to use mineral spirits or a similar adhesive remover to remove small ...
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| BBQ | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I have a brick BBQ with a built-in gas grill. I would like to add on a counter and bar so that the ...
A: Yes good idea. If you pull up the pavers in the area, you can start the block or brick right on the ...
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| concrete sealer | 7/15/2008 |
Q: what type of sealer could I buy for a stamped concrete sidewalk? the company that used to do it ...
A: Usually, we seal decorative concrete with a clear epoxy that dries to a few thousand psi. ...
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| BBQ | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I have a brick BBQ with a built-in gas grill. I would like to add on a counter and bar so that the ...
A: I apologize for forgetting that part. IF the pavers are set in mortar on the concrete, you can pour ...
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| cutting slate rock | 7/14/2008 |
Q: We are about to install slate rock on our lanscaping as steps. The steps are already formed and ...
A: I have had trouble with a chipping hammer on certain stones myself. An angle grinder with a diamond ...
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| shower tile question | 7/13/2008 |
Q: We own a home built in 1961. One of the previous owners installed sheets of formica in a ...
A: I do not think there is a chemical that would remove it without staining the concrete. If you are ...
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| Cement work | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I need to build a 36"x"x"36 concrete block in the ground. What size rebar and how should I build the ...
A: You probably should check your local buildings' codes to see if they have any specific instructions ...
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| stucco repair | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I have chiseled away at the edge of the old stucco to make a rough edge, overlapped new tar paper ...
A: If the old stucco is painted or sealed my may want to a bonding agent. You find it in the concrete ...
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| Paver Brick sand usage | 7/11/2008 |
Q: Dan, I am laying a Clay Paver brick walkway using a "Techni-Seal RG Polymeric Sand" sand that seals ...
A: The techni seal is designed to be used in the joints after pavers are installed. The polymeric is ...
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| BBQ | 7/7/2008 |
Q: I have a brick BBQ with a built-in gas grill. I would like to add on a counter and bar so that the ...
A: You can stone right on top of a rough brick face. A smooth brick made need a coat of adhesive ...
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| stucco repair | 7/7/2008 |
Q: I have chiseled away at the edge of the old stucco to make a rough edge, overlapped new tar paper ...
A: You should be able to apply to stucco to the wire mesh. You may need to do two coats on it though. A ...
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| Texture coating outdoor/cinder block walls | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I am doing some work in my backyard and one of the things I am working on is the wall that surrounds ...
A: The easiest way to put on stucco is with a rubber float like for grouting tile. Bonsal makes a ...
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| Fixing, painting? concrete | 7/4/2008 |
Q: We are trying to get my elderly parents' house ready to sell ( obviously can't spend a lot of ...
A: A concrete floor repair or floor leveling mix should work for cracks. A good Behr concrete paint or ...
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| concrete coating/stain | 7/3/2008 |
Q: MY CONCRETE POOL DECK IS ABOUT 7 YRS OLD AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I WANT TO SIMPLY CHANGE THE ...
A: Behr makes a good product and I would definitely recommend a epoxy floor coat. Concretenetwork.com ...
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| cleaning inside brick wall without acid can it be done? | 7/3/2008 |
Q: dont know who to listen to half my friends tell me clean off mortar film with acid the other half ...
A: The acid a stiff bristle brush is the easy way to clean it. You may be able to find homeowner ...
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| Concrete patio | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I am having a patio put in, about 17x15 feet. In one bid, the contractor put that the cement was ...
A: Pouring over dirt is fine as long as they have tamped and leveled it properly. They should have a ...
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| Water seepage through block wall | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I have a masonry block wall built with rebar and concrete and the usual foundation. My neighbor's ...
A: Large amounts of water can make the soil under the footer sink or erode over time. Houses are ...
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| How do I install raw slate rock | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I harvested some slate rock from a quarry. I have flattened off most of the rough edges. The rock is ...
A: If you have hardibacker, you do not have to put up mesh and run a scratch coat. You can use a stone ...
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| garage cinder walls seperating from each other | 6/30/2008 |
Q: The concrete floor is cracked and raised/lower in areas of 3 inches height in places.The cinder ...
A: It sounds like there was not proper prep work done and a deep enough footer poured. It may be ...
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| fixing a loose slate piece on porch | 6/28/2008 |
Q: It seems as if water has gotten under the slate and lifted up one piece. How do I go about fixing ...
A: Thinset is tile adhesive found in the flooring section of a home improvement store. Make sure the ...
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| New foundation termite spray | 6/27/2008 |
Q: We are building an addition to our house that will involve a new monoslab concrete foundation. We ...
A: I am sorry I was not clear. For termite protection, after excavation, a termite control company will ...
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| New foundation termite spray | 6/27/2008 |
Q: We are building an addition to our house that will involve a new monoslab concrete foundation. We ...
A: You need to call a termite control company and have them come out and spray before the concrete is ...
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| Deteriorating mortar in fieldstone pillars | 6/23/2008 |
Q: Dan, I have a house, actually it's 1/2 of a twin (house split in half...sort of) about 20 miles ...
A: The best thing to do is jack and level anything resting on the sinking foundation. Then you can ...
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| Masonry flashing | 6/19/2008 |
Q: Should my brick mason have applied flashing over the roof climb that lays on the roof where the ...
A: The house and roof should be sealed from water before the brick mason started. Part of that is the ...
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| exposed interior brick | 6/18/2008 |
Q: Hey Dan I was just wondering if you know what the best way is to redo an exposed red brick wall. The ...
A: Are you going to rebrick the wall or are you going to plaster over the wall? If the mortar is soft, ...
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| Masonry flashing | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Should my brick mason have applied flashing over the roof climb that lays on the roof where the ...
A: Yes the mason should have flashed it. The windows should also have been prepared and sealed properly ...
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| Brick Patio problems | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I have a wonderful paver brick patio, the kind that has a sand/gravel base and sand used in the 1/8 ...
A: The cement base is the best way to go but there is a few other options. You can set them thick in ...
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| concrete block/cultured brick chimney leak | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I recently had a new chimney installed on our home. It is constructed of new concrete block back ...
A: The sealant may or may not solve the problem. The issue is that any descent mason knows that block ...
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| Concrete Slab | 6/6/2008 |
Q: This may not be exactly in your area, but you’re bound to know more than I do. Or maybe someone else ...
A: You can do it and the wire is a good start. You may have to use something more like a decorative ...
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| How to lay masonry block on a preexisting garage slab | 6/4/2008 |
Q: We have a garage that has no block foundation. We need to know how to lay a block foundation on a ...
A: You can run sill seal under the new pressure treated green plates. This a roll of thin blue foam ...
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| painting textured concrete block | 6/3/2008 |
Q: We are renovating an 80 year old textured block home. The home includes a 20x20 addition that we are ...
A: You can paint the brick if you want. You can try a exterior paint on everything but test a small ...
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| How to lay masonry block on a preexisting garage slab | 6/1/2008 |
Q: We have a garage that has no block foundation. We need to know how to lay a block foundation on a ...
A: The wood cribbing is a good idea but leave it in place for at least two days if it is over 60 ...
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| Redo brick patio | 6/1/2008 |
Q: My brick patio collects dirt build up and weeds making it very slippery. It's 25 years old and some ...
A: You can prevent weeds and cracking by digging a 4 inch foundation and compacting 2 inches of gravel ...
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| zud cleanser | 5/29/2008 |
Q: What retail stores sell Zud cleanser ? need it to get rid of rust on concrete driveway
A: I take you have checked the local home improvement stores. You can try an Ace Hardware they usually ...
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| pointing a brick wall | 5/27/2008 |
Q: I have an interior basement wall (stucco on the outside) that looks as if the mason buttered only ...
A: You can point it if you want to cover it with something later. The blocks and mortar are not ...
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| Concrete floor repair | 5/27/2008 |
Q: I have a inlaw apartment in my chicago style bungalow (built around 1921) that I use for a rental. I ...
A: I have taken out the two by fours that were set in concrete and have rotted. We used quikcrete floor ...
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| overdig needed? | 5/24/2008 |
Q: How are you doing...I've been analyzing that website (Kleinberg Construction) and noticed a section ...
A: The buried row will the perimeter and be the first two treads. Then you can fill the rest in. You do ...
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| overdig needed? | 5/20/2008 |
Q: How are you doing...I've been analyzing that website (Kleinberg Construction) and noticed a section ...
A: Yes that should be okay but be careful of settling. I recommended burying regular blocks a while ...
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| overdig needed? | 5/19/2008 |
Q: How are you doing...I've been analyzing that website (Kleinberg Construction) and noticed a section ...
A: You can do the 40 or 20 inches if you wants. I do so much new construction that I have to remember ...
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| concrete block wall | 5/18/2008 |
Q: we had our home waterproofed and put new drain tiles ect. Now I want to refinish the interior bock ...
A: It will be harder without chemicals but will be more pleasant to live in while you are working on ...
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| what should be first?? | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I have the tranches for the low-lying (maybe four course) privacy/decorative walls. They are about ...
A: Run the rebar into the ground and let them stick as long as they are. Measure and place them to go ...
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| drainage weirdness | 5/17/2008 |
Q: Well hello there! I said I wouldn't ask about the steps anymore...haha...I didn't say anything ...
A: Yes you can use them. Only place them where they will be seen and use standard blocks for support ...
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| what should be first?? | 5/16/2008 |
Q: I have the tranches for the low-lying (maybe four course) privacy/decorative walls. They are about ...
A: If you ran a string to mark the trench and pillars, then you can put up your pillars first. It is ...
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| drainage weirdness | 5/16/2008 |
Q: Well hello there! I said I wouldn't ask about the steps anymore...haha...I didn't say anything ...
A: You can slope the patio lightly to a point on the wall and then place a small piece of 2 inch pvc ...
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| brick step repair | 5/15/2008 |
Q: Is there a guild on building stairs out of bricks? My front steps are deteriorating, (loose mortar)
A: This a great site with step by instructions and pictures. ...
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| frostline and block steps | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I know you're sick of hearing from me, but I promise this will be the LAST communication! I live in ...
A: It is what I am here for. You can ask as much as you need to. Is there any new housing in your ...
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| cement driveway | 5/12/2008 |
Q: hope you can help me out. I have a cement driveway that is flaking away, the privious owner must ...
A: There are a good number of sealers you can buy. There are also concrete coatings that can change the ...
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| Washing newly coated concrete | 5/11/2008 |
Q: I coated my driveway with Behr one part epoxy slate grey concrete and garage coating. I coated it ...
A: I would be careful of not following their instructions. Did the sealer recommend waiting 30 days on ...
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| removing antique marble mantles | 5/11/2008 |
Q: I'm getting ready to sell the family home of fifty years. The home is circa 1850 with four ...
A: Wow, four marble fireplaces over 150 years old. My best advice is to call a marble and granite ...
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| slab and decorative wall | 5/11/2008 |
Q: First, thanks for answering. I am planning a front porch set of steps...I already wrote to ...
A: I am glad I could help. You could call your county building inspectors to ask about footers for ...
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| Small patio | 5/10/2008 |
Q: I'm laying a small patio for my sister in a small area of her garden where grass doesn't readily ...
A: We lay pavers on both sand and on mortar. We use mortar when there is concrete or durock under them ...
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| slab and decorative wall | 5/8/2008 |
Q: First, thanks for answering. I am planning a front porch set of steps...I already wrote to ...
A: Mostly it depends on how hard the soil is and the water table. The sand goes first and you compact ...
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| slab and decorative wall | 5/7/2008 |
Q: First, thanks for answering. I am planning a front porch set of steps...I already wrote to ...
A: You do not need a concrete pad if you can rent a power tamper and compact a sand bed really well ...
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| Brick crumbling | 5/1/2008 |
Q: My home is about eight years old. The front of the house is 1\4 brick with the remaining wall ...
A: Eight years seems soon for brick to be crumbling. The mortar shouldn't have even cured to full ...
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| Garage cinder block Wall | 5/1/2008 |
Q: My question has to do with my garage wall. The corner seems to have settled and left about a half to ...
A: Cook I would recommend cleaning out the foam using the jack and filling with mortar and concrete. ...
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| Driveway | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I need some help. I want to expand my concrete driveway deep and wide. After this is done however, ...
A: As long as you use treated 1x4's to wrap the concrete you are pouring up to you should be fine. You ...
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| parging or pointing a chimney after a roofing job. | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I recently had my roof replaced. The day the mason was to point the bricks below the flashing, he ...
A: The main issue is if there is a leak who will cover it. Most shingle manufactures cover the ...
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| tuckpoint | 4/29/2008 |
Q: My budget is limited and I have some gaping HOLES in the mortar in the foundation of my home. My ...
A: Quikcrete has some ready mixed mortar repair in buckets for smaller repairs. For gaps over 1/2 inch ...
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| slab for front poch steps | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I wish to pour a 4" slab for my cinderblock/veneer steps. I dug 64"x64"x12"...I will begin my first ...
A: So far so good. I recommend rebar because the wire mess does not add much strength. You can then ...
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| masonry steps w/veneer | 4/29/2008 |
Q: Once I have my mason (cinderblocks in place as my infastructure, then backfill the crevasses with ...
A: I like an inch to inch and a half overhang on steps. much more and it is a trip hazard. Yes you can ...
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| poor drainage garage floor | 4/29/2008 |
Q: We've just moved into a new home and find that the garage floor is almost level, with low spots that ...
A: One way is to pour a 2 to 3 inch slab on top of a layer of sand on top of your old slab. The other ...
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| Cleaning flagstone | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I'm wondering what is the best way to clean flagstone. I've tried pressure washing, which doesn't ...
A: I usually use something mild like dawn and a sponge. Muriatic acid is about the strongest thing I ...
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| Mortar mix | 4/23/2008 |
Q: Dan: I plan to repair part of my stone wall, and need to use TypeII cement and sand for the mortar ...
A: Your welcome I hope I helped or steered you in the right direction. I know that it is formulated for ...
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| Mortar mix | 4/22/2008 |
Q: Dan: I plan to repair part of my stone wall, and need to use TypeII cement and sand for the mortar ...
A: Why do you need to use a Typell cement for this kind of wall. When we use a regular portland mortar ...
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| refacing brick fireplace with fieldstone | 4/16/2008 |
Q: I have a brick fireplace that I've painted a couple of times and it's not making my husband happy! I ...
A: You have a few options to replace your fireplace with flagstone. Because of the painted brick you ...
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| Speed block vs. Standard block | 4/14/2008 |
Q: I'm doing a study comparing Standard CMU blocks to H-blocks, a.k.a. "Mortarless Joint Head" a.k.a. ...
A: This question is a little out of my specialty but I will give you all the help I can. In most ...
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| Cement pier for pergola post | 4/14/2008 |
Q: I'm planing to start erecting pergola on Thursday. Today is Monday and I just cemented the post ...
A: I believe you sent this to me in the decks section but it was waiting to be answered in the masonry ...
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