DEAR TIM: I was on vacation before Christmas visiting relatives in southern California. I love outdoor plants so we visited a place called Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. There I saw the most unusual patio and sidewalk paving. Never before had I seen such beauty and thought it was fake. Different small stones that were different Read More »
DEAR TIM: My husband and I are in a small skirmish about our new brick veneer home. I want it to be somewhat distinctive where you incorporate random pieces of rock in the brick. Among other claims, he says this will weaken the brick and cause leaks. Is this true? He’s also worried that it Read More »
Maryann Mosca had an unfortunate loss in her life and now she's trying to finish a stone job and needs to change the mortar color. She lives in Branchburg, NJ. Here's what she sent me: "Let me start by saying my husband was a carpenter and put on a 2nd floor and front porch on our Read More »
Helen Jennings wants to create a new door in the exterior wall of an ancient stone home in Holmbridge, West Yorkshire England! Here's what she sent me: "Do you think it would be possible to knock a doorway through this side external wall on the same level as the front door? I'd also want to add a Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Brick walls leak in heavy rain Can I drill weep holes into brick Do not drill bricks Coat bricks to stop water infiltration Sara, who lives in Elgin, IL, has an issue that plagues hundreds of thousands of homeowners. Let her tell you all about the water that runs down her basement Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Best way to install stone veneer WHAT does the manufacturer say The warranty is most important Cement paint will help get a great bond Dan Ritchey, from Malta, Montana, asked: "Do you have to use metal lathe and thinset on stone veneer or can you apply a scratch coat on cement board Read More »
Glue Rocks Together - Use Magic Epoxy Below Quick Column Summary: Stacked rock sculpture What is the bonding material Use a rock/masonry epoxy Maurizio Magnani was perplexed after visiting a public park in Duarte, CA. Here's what he wrote to me: "I would like to build a river rocks assembly I saw at a nearby Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Artificial stone install DIY friendly Read all installation instructions Create a surface for rock to adhere to Use cement paint DEAR TIM: I was at a spring home show and saw a few displays that featured beautiful stone. When I asked about what type of stone it was, the man said it Read More »
Cordless hammer drills are capable of drilling holes into solid granite quickly and easily. No need to use sledge hammers and star bits. If your project calls for a full day of drilling, you may want to get a corded drill and a portable power generator.
Building a dry-laid arched stone bridge is possible, but you must cut the stones just right. A tight fit is required to keep the stones from moving. It might be easier to use a little cement mortar. The use of mortar allows you to not worry about how tightly the stones must fit
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