Concrete is composed of cement, aggregate (including crushed rock and sand) and water. In homes, it's frequently seen in the foundation, driveway, sidewalk, patio, and stone walls. Note that bricks use mortar in the joints, not concrete.
2
votes
1answer
341 views
Tips and advice for repairing front yard stairs cheaply?
The front yard concrete stairs at the place we're looking to buy are in need of eventual repair. Some of the steps are different sizes creating a trip hazard. In addition, some of them have large ...
2
votes
4answers
743 views
What is the best way to remove pet odor from concrete?
The concrete floor in my garage had been home to a large dog for several years. There is a visible stain and strong smell in one area of the garage floor. The concrete does not appear to be sealed ...
2
votes
1answer
311 views
How can I extend this concrete pad?
So the wedge shaped concrete pad thats right up against the house; April 17th, we're having air conditioning installed before it gets to hot out. According to the installer, the unit will fit on the ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
What can I do about this painted concrete?
The previous owners of my home decided to paint the sidewalk and porch surfaces. Not only are they painted but they are this horrible color. Do you have any suggestions on what to repaint them with ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
How do I replace a wooden fence post that was set in concrete?
I need to replace a wooden fence post that was set into concrete. The post has snapped through rot at the base and the rot has set in so far that the post snapped about 2 inches beneath the surface.
...
2
votes
2answers
472 views
How can I prepare this concrete floor for tile?
I'm looking to replace an old carpet in my finished basement with tile. I've removed the carpet and found a surface with some peeling paint, which I've read needs to be removed since the thinset for ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I prepare this exterior concrete wall for paint?
I have a an exterior concrete wall that had some loose paint and started scraping away. The paint in some sections was so loose that I went all the way to the bare concrete, peeling away over 6 layers ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
How do I fix my crawlspace's mould problem given the floor is an improperly poured slab of concrete?
I have a 50 year old backsplit, with a minor mould problem in the crawlspace. There are a couple of wet spots that can be fixed with simple exterior grade changes, and one spot that will need to be ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
What's the best way to fill in some uneven cracks in my garage and level it out so that I can paint over it?
I have a big crack on my garage floor. I need to fill it and level it out so that I can paint over it using that garage floor epoxy paint. Basically, I'm selling the house and I want to make the ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
How do I install a range anti-tip kit into hardwood floor on concrete?
I'm preparing to install an anti-tip kit for an electric range. It's a piece of shaped metal designed to be bolted to the floor with two screws or bolts. The floor is hardwood (probably engineered) ...
2
votes
2answers
193 views
What are some good concrete and foundation books?
I've done all sorts of home repairs and projects, but never concrete work. I've been looking for a good book to help me learn how to build concrete foundations for a home, and how to pour and finish ...
2
votes
1answer
203 views
How do I safely install a pole/mast on our roof?
We are installing a pole/mast for wireless communication equipment on the roof of our commercial building.
The pole will need to rise 2m above the roofline. Obviously we want the pole to be as ...
2
votes
2answers
469 views
What cement product should I use to fix a hole in my slab?
I was removing old thinset and self-leveling cement in an area in preparation to tile it when the 6" chisel and demo hammer I was using sunk in to a specific spot. I found that this specific spot had ...
2
votes
1answer
204 views
How can I mount a projector to a concrete ceiling?
I am in a dorm room and I am attempting to mount my projector and screen in my ceiling... As far as I can tell from just tapping the ceiling it is made of cinderblocks if that sounds right or ...
2
votes
1answer
385 views
How can I clean and paint my basement floor?
The basement in my house I just purchased has remnants of paint on one half of the basement that is separated by a wall. The remaining paint is stuck down really well and I would like to paint over ...
2
votes
2answers
211 views
How to find the concrete beam in a sandy block ceiling?
I want to hang a ceiling fan at my apartment, where the ceiling is made mostly of a sandy material. How do I find the concrete beam going through it, assuming I do not have access to the blueprints of ...
2
votes
1answer
193 views
How to mitigate and/or repair concrete frets (slab edge wetting)
A building engineer made a report of problems with our property. One issue raised was "slab edge wetting" by which the building engineer meant that the concrete slab on which the house is built is ...
2
votes
2answers
327 views
What is an appropriate sealer for a Papercrete bench?
I've built a bench out of tires and papercrete two years ago. i've sealed it with lime plaster. in the past two years it held up against 500 m"m of rain in the winter and Mediterranean sun 7 month ...
2
votes
2answers
321 views
How do I add veneer stone to an exterior painted wall?
I have an exterior painted wall and am interested in installing a stone veneer. I realize that I may have to install wire mesh to the areas but I'm wondering if there is a material that can be used to ...
2
votes
0answers
170 views
Where can I find unsanded epoxy grout? [closed]
I have a concrete counter that is a bit unusual in that the surface layer is just concrete dye. It looks awesome, very earthy mix of colors, but unfortunantly it cracks, pulls up a bit. I tried ...
1
vote
3answers
322 views
Is creating a concrete driveway a diy?
The entry of the driveway is just a rock bed with no concrete. I want to replace it, it doesn't have to be replaced with concrete so I'm open to suggestions there. If it is a diy, what are the high ...
1
vote
3answers
421 views
Will this drill bit work on concrete?
I'm very new at drilling stuff and I have never drilled a hole in my life before. I need to drill through concrete (I don't know what kind of concrete it is), and I'm wondering if the following drill ...
1
vote
1answer
444 views
What is the difference between fire cement and fire concrete?
I am trying to build a foundry. The Youtube video refers to 4:1 Perlite:Fire Cement. But the shop also offers Fire Concrete. I don't know what's the difference.
Could someone please explain the ...
1
vote
2answers
118 views
Suggestions for dealing with the sharp corner of a storm drain
The (city-owned) storm drain outside my house has a corner that protrudes about half an inch from the line of the sidewalk. It's sharp enough to puncture a tire; I've lost a few to it over the years, ...
1
vote
2answers
165 views
Will I trap moisture in the concrete of basement walls and floors if I seal them with epoxy?
I'm thinking about painting my basement's walls with some concrete sealer (before finishing the basement) and floor with epoxy paint. Many people are doing that, but I'm concerned about moisture in ...
1
vote
2answers
448 views
How to attach concrete to wood?
I'm planning a wooden table with concrete legs. I will use a U-shape or O-Shape for the legs.
Should i use screws to attach the legs to the slab or is there a better way?
I thought of placing a metal ...
1
vote
1answer
241 views
What is the difference between building sand and plaster sand
Recently I mixed a batch of mortar for building and was unsure if the hardware provided me with building sand or plaster sand..
What are the properties that differentiate the two? and are there any ...
1
vote
2answers
239 views
Can I change the color of the mortar in my brick wall?
We recently built our home and the mortar color between the bricks is dark gray, we did not pay attention to it and because of that the brick face is looking duller due to the standard gray mortar.
...
1
vote
2answers
135 views
Can I use blind rivets in concrete?
Somebody told me about using blind rivets (5mm) to attach drywall steel tracks on concrete floor and ceiling. Do that really works?
How good is this compared with bushing and screw?
1
vote
3answers
517 views
How can I use toggle bolts with limited depth behind them?
I have a predicament, I am putting up a shelf into the wall.
The wall is plaster, and then hollow and then concrete. I have screws with toggle bolts on them.
The 2 inch screw with the toggle bolt ...
1
vote
1answer
498 views
“Draining” concrete blocks?
We've recently had exterior waterproofing applied our house. In the process, we removed an old cold room that was underneath our porch. They walled up the entrance to the old cold room, and then ...
1
vote
2answers
312 views
How do steel and enforced concrete posts compare?
From what I observe in my region posts in both municipal and private construction - mostly fence posts and lighting posts - are gradually replaced from enforced concrete to steel pipes.
Is it just my ...
1
vote
2answers
50 views
What is the best choice for patching and leveling concrete before tile install?
We have a small area of concrete foundation that we need to patch and level prior to ceramic tile installation (12×12 tiles). It is concrete that we chipped the old tile mortar off of, so there are ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
What water:cement:sand ratio gives the strongest mortar?
A typical mortar mix ratio is 1 cement : 3 sand. But what is the water ratio? Is it 0.5:1:3?
Would a 0.5:1:2 ratio be a stronger mortar?
Our next door neighbor has a dog that digs like a pro. The ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
How to Level Concrete for Sliding Patio Doors?
I'm replacing an outdoor sliding patio door set with a new one that has almost the exact same dimensions - luckily the previous homeowner (family) did not go with custom-sized doors.
The issue is ...
1
vote
1answer
164 views
Does concrete sealant slow the growth of moss?
Does sealant like Thompson's WaterSeal slow the growth of moss on concrete? I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest and moss and mold are regular problems.
1
vote
2answers
442 views
How do I handle a transition from concrete to dirt underneath a flagstone patio?
I had a pool installed a few years ago and the builder threw in a narrow concrete patio around it. See fuzzy picture below (sorry about that. Google earth must be a little tipsy tonight).
So now ...
1
vote
1answer
238 views
Where can I buy a concrete gate post in the style of this 1930’s gate post?
We are about to get a wall rebuilt and it would be great if we could have gate posts that where in the same style as the rest of the road. As I don't know the same of the style I have nothing to ...
1
vote
1answer
388 views
Sealing a small crack in poured concrete foundation
I have a small crack in my foundation that started seeping water when there was ice on the ground. The water is flowing along the foundation under my fireplace bump out. The cause of the problem ...
1
vote
1answer
19 views
How do I remove a small amount of water based concrete sealer from a painted floor?
I was using a water based concrete sealer on my painted concrete floors. I did something wrong, and one tiny section didn't dry clear.
My question is, what can I use to remove a small portion ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
How can I fix a tilted concrete shed footing?
We just bought our first home, and it came with a shed (hooray! Workspace!).
The shed has a footing that's about 8" wide and runs the perimeter of shed, and at some point erosion has caused the part ...
1
vote
1answer
115 views
Will having a joint between concrete beams weaken a structure?
My house is currently being constructed. It is a 20x60 foot plot. The boundary walls on the left and right sides are 4 inches thick. The beam on the right side 4-inch wall has been constructed. Now ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
How should I flatten (not level) a concrete subfloor?
In the final stages of finishing a room in our walk-out basement. This particular room has a long history, as it was originally a garage. Thus, it has a slight pitch from the back of the room ...
1
vote
2answers
269 views
How can I repair a slow leak in my concrete fountain?
I have a painted concrete fountain whose bottom well slowly leaks over about 2 days.
My area gets to ~-20c (-9ish F) in the winter, so I worry that trapped water is slowly destroying it.
I suspect ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Can too little sand equal weaker concrete?
Often on a bag of cement the instructions will relate the quantities in terms of bags of cement with wheelbarrows of sand and stone. They claim that 2bags cement = 1 wheelbarrow. I found that my ...
1
vote
2answers
572 views
Can I float a tongue-and-grooved 1x12 pine floor over a concrete slab on grade?
I have bare concrete floor that was, until recently, covered with carpet. After recently seeing a friend of mine purchase raw pine, shape the tongue-and-groove himself, and seal it to achieve a ...
1
vote
1answer
115 views
Concrete basement: Do I need a sealer or wax only?
I'm going to acid stain my concrete basement floor. Do I NEED a sealer, or can I simply apply wax directly to the concrete (which intuitively would act as the sealer itself)?
1
vote
1answer
147 views
How do I best build up concrete driveway where it meets the basement foundation of house?
Our driveway slightly slopes into our basement foundation wall, causing water to stand in that area. We don't want to simply add cement to this area to elevate it one or two inches because of our ...
1
vote
2answers
717 views
Why won't my plugs stay put in concrete wall? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why would plastic anchors pull out of the wall?
I have drilled holes in my concrete wall (good hard concrete) with a regular 8 mm concrete drill. They all seem like good ...
1
vote
1answer
295 views
Do I need to do more prep work on this cement floor before putting in new tile?
In my basement i have a poured concrete floor, and we're re-doing the bathroom down there. It used to have Vinyl flooring, and we ripped it all up. The top vinyl part came up easily, but it left a bit ...
