Questions tagged [concrete]
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.
2,022
questions
0
votes
1
answer
21
views
Stained concrete
I went to change out my doormat (those coconut-husk fiber ones) and there was a stain and it's sticky. The stain is not size of the doormat, it looks like someone spilled a drink in front of our door. ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
38
views
Concrete/ cement screws for dry wall?
So my question is if my only option was to use anchor for dry wall/ plaster with screws for concrete/ cement would it still work as stronger than drywall screw? Any ideas please thank you I think the ...
0
votes
1
answer
30
views
What's this grey stuff on concrete wall
This stair handle wall is concrete, and it has been finished with white putty and paint.
I don't know what's this grey color stuff and any ideas to fix this would be great.
- 144
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
Waterproofing concrete wall
I'm renovating my shower and have decided to use Durock cement board to install tile on later. One of the walls is concrete block with a window. Is anything needed on the wall before installing the ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
21
views
Mor-flo gas hot water heater pilot light goes out when running
I have an old More-Flo gas water heater. I replaced the thin copper line that goes bad. The control valve has 4 lines coming from the bottom of it: the main gas line, the pilot line, the thermocouple ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
Installing door in a basement window to make a basement walkout
I am making a basement walkout. The door will be installed where there currently is a window. Currently there are 10 inches of concrete on top of the Window, but in order to fit an 80x36 inch door, ...
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
How do I fix the gap between my driveway and floor?
Given the extensive shifting of my driveway caused by clay soil and intense summer heat, resulting in substantial cracks and exposed rebar with separation from the garage floor slab, I'm contemplating ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
Best method for finishing horsehair plaster walls?
I’m in the process of renovating my 1920s house, which is constructed of concrete block, with stucco siding. The living room walls were in rough shape, so I started scraping away what was loose, which ...
0
votes
2
answers
114
views
Why is my neighbor's A/C causing my walls to sweat?
Whenever my neighbor runs their air conditioner for an extended period, my room, which shares a concrete wall with theirs, experiences condensation issues (my wall starts to 'sweat'). After ...
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Which wire and conduit with already-present outlets in the basement
I have a double outlet in my basement that is fed by 14/2 Romex wire (from the panel to the two outlets).
The wire runs along the ceiling for a length and then drops down vertically along a concrete ...
- 97
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Running 14/2 Romex vertically up a concrete wall
I'm in western NY.
I have an outlet in my unfinished basement that I need to connect to the electric panel. I have the 14/2 cable wired into the outlet and I just need to run it up the concrete wall, ...
- 97
0
votes
1
answer
58
views
Is there I can do to make this concrete front yard look better/less damaged?
many thanks in advance for any help.
I am house sitting for my elderly mother for 2 weeks whilst she is away. I have been doing lots of yard work to try and make it more habitable for her as a ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
138
views
Anchoring aluminum pergola to 4" slab
I just purchased a 11'x23'x8' aluminum pergola from Wayfair that will arrive in a couple weeks. It weighs roughly 750lb. In some reviews, it says the concrete screws that come in the kit are kind of ...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
54
views
Do I need to remove mold stains before applying foundation waterproofer?
We moved in to a house two years ago that had a crawl space dug out and turned into an unfinished basement area several years prior (>10?). I was hoping to turn it into a home brewing room (...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
Carpet Installation on Concrete
I am looking to put carpet down in a small 11x19 room that has a uneven concrete floor. I am aware that this isn't the best idea and will eventually cause uneven wear, but this is the short term ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
118
views
How can I fasten wooden stair treads to porcelain tile on concrete?
I want to install wood stair treads over a concrete and tile flight of stairs. The tile is porcelain tile.
I couldn't find any tutorial that addresses this specific scenario. Do I have to remove the ...
2
votes
1
answer
96
views
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 (...
- 21
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
ICF home -- are columns in the photos load bearing? [closed]
I'm in need of some guidance regarding the two columns in the photos below. I'm trying to determine if they're load bearing. The home is an Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) build. I'm planning to remove ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
30
views
How can I construct an outdoor concrete pad and retaining wall that will also work as a basement floor and foundation wall?
I know at least a few ways to pour a concrete pad for long term outdoor use. And I can build a retaining wall, poured or from cinder blocks (or from timber, but that's less relevant here).
I am less ...
- 732
2
votes
1
answer
77
views
Concrete Control Cuts
Our concrete contractor installed two garage aprons. He cut control joints that stopped 4 inches from our house, a block wall, and a wood retaining wall. Will we run into problems with cracking next ...
- 21
0
votes
0
answers
65
views
replacing lamp post; can underground electrical wire be in concrete?
I'm replacing an old lamp post. Am digging out the old one. The wire seems to be at least or around a foot down, instead of a few inches. I'm not sure if the old pole had a hole in the side, about 12-...
- 243
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How do I go about repairing/redoing this uneven and damaged basement concrete floor?
I've got a section of my basement that I want to turn into a workshop, but one of the many things to improve is the floor. I want a smooth level floor for this section of the basement (I might ...
- 211
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Framing a glass greenhouse
I would like to build a greenhouse using an existing steel frame structure that is already erected. It is 20L X 20W X 10H. I have many large sheets of 1/8" tempered glass to use for this. Will ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
40
views
Is gravel required under a concrete slab that is beneath a fence (not supporting it)?
I have a vinyl fence around the back of my house. The posts are already supported by cement. I want to create concrete forms in between the posts to cover the dirt so I don't have to deal with weeds ...
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Can you cut self leveling concrete with a concrete saw?
I am looking to remodel a basement and I really like the concrete finish look with a clear coat of opaque epoxy over the top. I don't want the floor to be one continuous piece. Its an older home with ...
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
How to mount cabinets on concrete wall
I've watched a number of videos on YT about mounting cabinets on a concrete wall. All of them suggest mounting a wood strip of some kind first and then mounting the cabinet to the strip. My question ...
- 1,541
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to shorten a concrete pipe sticking from ground
In the garden I have an access shaft for underground rainwater tank. The shaft itself is a concrete pipe outer diameter 72cm and internal diameter 56cm. The wall thickness varies between 6 and 10 cm (...
- 297
1
vote
0
answers
13
views
Remove water run off stains on concrete
We had some planters installed in our backyard and the drainage wasn’t really thought through well. So when it rained, some water stains were left on our concrete.
What’s a good way to remove these ...
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What drill bit should I use to drill a 2-1/2" hole through 8" of concrete?
I'm having some electrical upgraded and I need to drill a 2-1/2" hole through my 8" foundation. The foundation is poured concrete and has small rounded stones inside. This house is almost ...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
32
views
How to bond weather seal to concrete floor under garage door
I have one of those generic Garage Door Weather Seal rubber strips that go under my canopy door. It came with an adhesive to bond it with, but I've noticed that it's started to lift in a lot of places....
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
34
views
Fixing holes going to the sides of concrete steps
I have some holes going through not the top, but the sides of my concrete steps. What can I use to back up the holes in order to be able to fill them in with some quick setting cement? And what sort ...
0
votes
3
answers
82
views
Is it possible to pour a monolithic concrete pit?
I'm pouring a concrete storm water pit over an existing pipe. This is basically a big box without a lid. Most jobs I've seen pour the base first, let it cure, and then place the wall forms on top and ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
30
views
How do you repair a hole in a concrete floor in a second story bathroom?
The plumber chiseled a hole in a concrete floor in a second story bathroom floor to install a toilet. How do you replace the concrete he removed so the toilet has a solid support and stops rocking?
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
36
views
Flange installed in concrete slab
original flange
Replacing original 1976 toilet and found this flange. Seems in good condition but it looks like maybe it sank as you can see a lip around the center. There are no screws it is embedded ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Advice: Basement Floor [closed]
Somehow, we got away (for 12 years) with a carpeted basement and NO working drain tile. That all changed last year when we got 7 inches of rain, 3 of which covered our basement floor. Fast-forward: we ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
59
views
Shoring up side of old raised concrete
I live in an old (1920) Baltimore rowhouse. The concrete basement floor was—as far as I can tell from having drilled in a few spots—poured over a pretty variable, haphazard substrate, probably just ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
91
views
Is my reinforced concrete ceiling still safe? [closed]
The ceiling of my Honk Kong flat has exposed corroded steel and crumbling concrete. The plaster easily falls out of there, and there are cracks in the roof.
Is this fixable?
Is this still safe?
What ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
Are these anchors enough for a 30lb light fixture?
I have a 30lb light that I'd like to install into an existing light fixture box on a concrete ceiling. My understanding is that most light fixture boxes should be rated to hold 50lbs.
However, 30lbs ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
73
views
Installing floating floor on concrete slab
I need a suggestion on installing hybrid floating floor. I have purchased laminate floor that have got cushion at the back. I need to prepare my concrete slab to install the hybrid laminate floor. ...
0
votes
0
answers
48
views
Sunken back patio drains water towards basement wall. Any quick fixes to reduce loading on wall from ice?
My concrete back patio has sunken into the ground over the years. Eventually I want to have it jacked with foam to bring it back to a good level but I need to get through the winter as is. The way it ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
50
views
How do I remove this old flue pipe?
There's an old chimney for a furnace in my basement which is no longer being used, and I'd like to take it out. It's going through cinder block, with concrete sealing around both sides.
Outer ...
- 28.9k
-1
votes
1
answer
18
views
Concrete garage floor
A 24'x 30' concrete garage floor. How many gallons of polyurethane floor paint do I need to buy to cover with a good coat?
2
votes
2
answers
69
views
Securing a bookshelf to a shared (concrete?) townhouse wall
I just rented a townhouse and the shared walls must be concrete or something equally hard. I have two large connected bookcases and had them anchored (to prevent tipover) to a stud in my previous ...
- 21
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Filling hole in limestone foundation wall with concrete
We have a garage built out of limestone bricks and sitting on a natural rock foundation. Recently, we dug our garage about 2 feet deeper by removing more of this rock. As a result, some of the rock ...
0
votes
2
answers
85
views
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 ...
- 113
-1
votes
1
answer
57
views
Poured Concrete, blocks or something else for single detached step
Good Afternoon,
I am redoing a patio at the front of our home and need some advice on how to handle a single step up to the existing front patio. Techo-Bloc calls for a pre-existing concrete step to ...
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
Can concret board be used as flooring board on an upper floor?
Does concrete board have the strength to be like flooring board spanning on joist or rafters as a second floor. That is not setting on solid ground. I think it can’t hold constant walking weight and ...
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
Can you use a shop vac outside without a filter?
Currently Grinding a concrete floor flat for hard flooring and using an angle grinder with a diamond cup bit and a dust cover.
I have the vacuum like attached to a dust rite separator and then to an ...
- 111
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Repairing a big gap in stone foundation wall under a window
I am going to repair a relatively big hole beneath a rotten window frame (about 12cm deep). I am looking for tips on how to do this. I was thinking about filling it up with small rocks and pouring ...
0
votes
2
answers
55
views
How can I hide or modifiy concrete column bases in my finished basement? [closed]
In my basement are what look like the bases of two support columns poking out at the base of my walls. These walls run in the middle of the basement. The bases are concrete and trapezoidal in shape, ...
- 103