<![CDATA[DIY Home Improvement, Remodeling & Repair Forum - Bricks, Masonry and Concrete]]> http://www.houserepairtalk.com en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:10:51 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[DIY Home Improvement, Remodeling & Repair Forum - Bricks, Masonry and Concrete]]> http://www.houserepairtalk.com Garage Floor resurfacing options http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/garage-floor-resurfacing-options-7988/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:09:38 GMT Hi Y'all!

I've got questions about my garage floor. I think it's about 50 years old, and there are no cracks in the floor. At one point it was covered with asphalt tile. However, significant areas of the floor have lost the tile and the top layer of concrete so that the gravel is exposed (is this called "spalling"?). The areas of exposure are 30-40% of the floor. It's hard to tell how much has worn away since the areas are large, but there are two points where the spalling is about 3/4 of an inch deep, the two spots near the bottom of this photo:



Here's the exposed gravel



So what are my options for this floor? I'm assuming I don't need to remove and replace the concrete since, with no cracking, it seems to be structurally sound. Can it be "skim-coated" with concrete? Will one of those acrylic coatings be able to effectively seal the concrete and prevent further spalling? Of course I'll need to remove the asphalt tile for an acrylic resurfacing--what about the mastic under the tile, does that need to be removed as well for the acrylic to bond?

I sure do appreciate your help :) ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete grins http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/garage-floor-resurfacing-options-7988/ Really Horrible Porch http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/really-horrible-porch-7979/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:39:09 GMT My porch is solid concrete. It's about 8" thick and 10' x 5'. Sinking, uneven, raised at one end due to frost and thaw and unstable base. I am considering getting rid. How much effort is involved in breaking it up ? I am thinking about renting a pneumatic drill, but have never used one before. Any information would be helpful. Thanks ! ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete Debster http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/really-horrible-porch-7979/ 2 amateurs http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/2-amateurs-7964/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:20:45 GMT We recently removed an old air conditioner from the front of my son's home. His home was built in the '70's, and we were unable to find the brick that matched it. It is all red and has a kind of combed look to it. We used brick left over from when our home was built-1994. We didn't think it would be as obvious a mismatch as it is, not only the brick, but the mortar. His was on the old ivory side, what we used was grey. I think that I might be able to top the mortar with a repair mortar in a better matching color, but Is there a way that I can put something on the bricks to match the old ones? Can I use a brick colored mortar and try to match the combing effect? Maybe there is just a good paint that I can use to match it? Help!
Thank you. ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete 2amateurs http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/2-amateurs-7964/ fieldstone http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/fieldstone-7948/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:28:24 GMT Hi all i have a modified a-frame that has t111 for siding and an exposed concrete block basement. The previous owner, did not have the gutters long enough or put any drainage leading away from the house. Since that time i have made sure all water is running away from the house and the basement... Hi all i have a modified a-frame that has t111 for siding and an exposed concrete block basement. The previous owner, did not have the gutters long enough or put any drainage leading away from the house.
Since that time i have made sure all water is running away from the house and the basement is super dry.
Since the block is covered with a thin layer of cement, i almost want to say stucco, and since it flaked off in places due to the moisture problems that i fixed, i would like to cover or clad it in fieldstone.
1. do i have to put a membrand down
2. or do i just have to put lathe down and skim coat and then start sticking on the fieldstone
3. any issues with fieldstone i should be aware of.....i have walls and walls of it, i will have no problem with matching withs, i have expericence cutting it also.
4. do i need to leave weep holes or will the lathe channel any water away from the house.
5.how do i start the base? do i have to pour a footing or add a steel shelf hanger to start the bottom course?
thanks. ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete forgeblast http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/fieldstone-7948/ Garage is sinking! http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/garage-sinking-7932/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:45:47 GMT Hello all, new to the forum. When my garage was built, the amateurs poured a slab of concrete over some crushed stone with no footers or even rebar, just a slab of concrete. They built my 2 car garage on it. Well, now the slab has cracked down the middle and is sinking on both sides. The only... Hello all, new to the forum. When my garage was built, the amateurs poured a slab of concrete over some crushed stone with no footers or even rebar, just a slab of concrete. They built my 2 car garage on it. Well, now the slab has cracked down the middle and is sinking on both sides. The only option I have come up with is this:

Score around the inside perimeter, cut and remove the floor inside. Then, with the concrete remaining along the sides that is holding up my garage I will drill holes and run a system of re-bar through them and pour new concrete inside. Also, I will dig in the corners down a few feet to install some supporting footers. Will this work? Thanks in advance.


]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete gwoloshyn http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/garage-sinking-7932/ Window well problem http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/window-well-problem-7916/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:28:20 GMT Our house was built in 1885...we have a window well...I beleive it is a concrete type of substance...it used to be a coal shaft...the previous owners installed glass block in this window well about 8 glass blocks high and 5across..it has a dryer vented out of one of the glass blocks at the... Our house was built in 1885...we have a window well...I beleive it is a concrete type of substance...it used to be a coal shaft...the previous owners installed glass block in this window well about 8 glass blocks high and 5across..it has a dryer vented out of one of the glass blocks at the top....the only problem we have is the window well fills with water when it rains heavy..it doesn't leak into the basement (yet!) can we build up the wall higher in the basement and can we fill in the well with anything like concrete? we have tried the well covers like bubbles and stuff...doesn't work very well...we want a more permanent solution... ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete soloschic http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/window-well-problem-7916/ Leaky foundation http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/leaky-foundation-7908/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:55:40 GMT Hello All.
I'm new to this site and hoping to get some help on my leaky crawl space.
My crawl space is block and water is leaking through it.
Now I already exstended the outside drains farther away from the house, and also back filled around the foundation, so water moves awy from the house.

I'm looking to see if anyone has ever tried a rubberized basement block paint, that stops water from seeping through the wall.
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]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete msbhammer http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/leaky-foundation-7908/ Ugly Canadian Porch http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/ugly-canadian-porch-7896/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:40:56 GMT I live in Ontario, Canada. The humidity levels are pretty high all year round....up to 80% in Summer, and the temp. is often minus 30 celcius in Winter. I have a solid concrete porch (10' x 8 ' x 20" thick) with hollow block steps that the former owner installed himself which is an eyesore. He brought the concrete up to within 1" of the threshold of the entry door, which means we get snow piled up against the door in Winter. I have considered removing the porch entirely, but don't really want to break up this much concrete. An alternative would be to remove the hollow block steps, frame the porch on the three sides away from the house with wood and attach wooden steps. My question is this : which fasteners are best for attaching wood to concrete ? Would I need a vapour barrier to separate the wood from the concrete, and can anyone suggest a "cap" to prevent rain and snow from penetrating the gap between the wood and concrete ?

Thanks for reading and any help with this. ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete Debster http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/ugly-canadian-porch-7896/ Concrete porch make over? http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/concrete-porch-make-over-7873/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:45:36 GMT I live in a ranch style house with light gray siding that is almost 6 years old. It has a 6 by 22 front porch that is just plain concrete. I want to change it up as painlessly as possible and have considered applying the gray garage floor epoxy with the sprinkles. I have a co-worker who did this... I live in a ranch style house with light gray siding that is almost 6 years old. It has a 6 by 22 front porch that is just plain concrete. I want to change it up as painlessly as possible and have considered applying the gray garage floor epoxy with the sprinkles. I have a co-worker who did this and loves it. I have also seen another house like that and liked it. For some reason, though, I am a little hesitant. Does anyone here feel that would look tacky for a newer house, or does it sound good? Any other suggestions? I really don't want outdoor carpet and don't want the trouble of putting down brick. ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete house92 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/concrete-porch-make-over-7873/ Foundation costs http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/foundation-costs-7867/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:14:31 GMT Hello, I own a home that is roughly 80 years old. The foundation is stone with a newer cement floor. On top of the stone foundation there are granite blocks. Portions of the foundation are bulging in and looking unstable. Also, sand is trickling in slowly. What I would like to do is pour a new... Hello,

I own a home that is roughly 80 years old. The foundation is stone with a newer cement floor. On top of the stone foundation there are granite blocks. Portions of the foundation are bulging in and looking unstable. Also, sand is trickling in slowly. What I would like to do is pour a new foundation inside the old one up to the bottom of the granite blocks.

Does anyone have experience with this? I have been toying with the idea of doing it my self. I do have some experience with pouring foundations, but fairly limited. My biggest question here though is, if I were to have someone do it what am I looking at for costs, roughly? The dimensions are 40 x 28.

Thanks in advance for the help. ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete m2244 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/foundation-costs-7867/ Foundation Has Settled 1/4 inch Need to Relevel Noticed Something Odd http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/foundation-has-settled-1-4-inch-need-relevel-noticed-something-odd-7866/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:07:42 GMT Hi everyone I was hoping to get some feedback. I just purchased a house that is partially on a concrete slab. Outer part of slab is cinder block and inner part is the poured concrete. In between the blocks and the center portion of the concrete there seems to be some fiber material/sheets of some... Hi everyone I was hoping to get some feedback. I just purchased a house that is partially on a concrete slab. Outer part of slab is cinder block and inner part is the poured concrete. In between the blocks and the center portion of the concrete there seems to be some fiber material/sheets of some sort. I think this is the same stuff that is used when they lay sidewalks. The put this material in between the poured concrete to prevent huge cracks affecting all the blocks.

I have attached a picture that shows the material along with the inner part of the foundation that has settled. You will also notice that there is cutback from the wood flooring that was on top (which we already removed). This cutback does not have asbestos btw (Had it tested).

It been a real difficult process mechanically removing the cutback. I have also tried Krud Cleaner (works also slow) and some remover from homedepot. Same thing slow process and the space is huge.

Does anyone have any recommendations on other products out there that I can just pour on the cutback and concrete that will allow me to level the floor out? I have read about ardex (can't find it at lowes or home depot or the supply houses near me).

Your help/comments would greatly be appreciated :D
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]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete fcastro http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/foundation-has-settled-1-4-inch-need-relevel-noticed-something-odd-7866/ concreting stairs http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/concreting-stairs-7859/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:38:44 GMT hello, I am needing to renovate some existing concrete stairs and would like to know the best method to do this. What type of concrete product/cement render is best to use, is it possible to use self levelling concrete and how do i make neat edges? thanks hello, I am needing to renovate some existing concrete stairs and would like to know the best method to do this. What type of concrete product/cement render is best to use, is it possible to use self levelling concrete and how do i make neat edges? thanks ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete Blasko http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/concreting-stairs-7859/ Cracks between asphalt driveway and house http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/cracks-between-asphalt-driveway-house-7840/ Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:02:24 GMT I have an older house that was built in the 1950's. The driveway is in a bit rough shape, and there are cracks between the driveway and house (cinderblock foundation). Moisture isn't a problem in the basement now (unfinished), but I'd like to fix this before the spring.

I've cleaned them out, but am not sure if I should use an asphalt crack filler, a rubber compound, asphalt depression fillter or combine them. The cracks are approximately 1" wide, and 1" deep. Also, the seal around one window needs to be replaced. Should I do that before or after fixing the asphalt?Images are attached.


To the best of my knowledge, i should fill in the smaller cracks in the large crack first, then apply asphalt depression filter creating a slop so the water runs away from the house, apply more crack filler as necessary afterwards. Am I on the right track?

I live in southern Ontario, and it's going to be warmer for the next few days with no rain so I'd like to take advantage and fix this up before the snow flies. Any advice?

Much appreciated.
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]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete megs_28 http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/cracks-between-asphalt-driveway-house-7840/ Removing simulated bricks from backsplash http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/removing-simulated-bricks-backsplash-7834/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:25:13 GMT Hello....
I'm in the process of redoing my backsplash. My problem is there are big rocks that were cemented onto the wall. I've tried EVERYTHING to try to get them off (other than taking a big sludge hammer to them) Does anyone have any recommendations on how to remove these rocks?

It's sort of looks like this http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto...-main_Full.jpg

but not as close together and not as well done.... ]]> Bricks, Masonry and Concrete ronna http://www.houserepairtalk.com/f17/removing-simulated-bricks-backsplash-7834/