16
votes
Accepted
Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?
I put some posts into concrete - made a dry mix and tamped it down.
Next day it was just about done - the mix absorbed moisture from the surrounding soil and was fine.
If you need a really smooth ...
- 28.7k
12
votes
Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?
Unless you are in a extremely dry area this is fine.
The concrete mix will absorb moisture from air and surrounding soil and will slowly set. Usually a couple of days is all it takes.
Some rain or a ...
- 755
11
votes
Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?
This is a common technique for setting posts in the ground.
Here is a video from Quickcrete that explains how to do it:
Quickcrete Dry Mix Post Setting
- 23.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Is it OK if my Durock cement board got wet?
Durock and similar cement-based products are designed for uses where it may be exposed to water. It's not waterproof but it will not disintegrate or lose its strength when wet.
You should allow it ...
- 23.5k
6
votes
Quikrete didn't absorb much water. What did I do wrong?
It's fairly simple if your going to put it in dry like that. Put a bag in, then a gallon in, and so on. Don't put 4 bags in a narrow hole and expect 4 Gallons of water to penetrate all the way through ...
6
votes
Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?
This is perfectly fine unless you live in a desert where it never rains.
I've seen Florida Public Works workers build a concrete catch basin for a large pipe that passed under a road, and they used ...
- 12.8k
6
votes
How can I remove tack strip from cement without leaving holes for the nails?
You should be able to pick up a tub of concrete patch from Home Depot or whatnot for under $20. Pop the strips out and patch the holes. That's pretty much the best, quickest, and easiest solution.
- 5,860
5
votes
Accepted
Will a cement mixer extend the working life of mortar?
A mixer might help you mix smaller batches more quickly, so that you can easily adjust the size of a batch and keep up. But most mixers will make you think you should be making an even larger batch, ...
- 226k
5
votes
Accepted
How can I fill this gap between concrete and cement board?
I ended up filling the gap with tile thinset and cement board tape.
- 25
5
votes
Accepted
How to properly patch the "scar" in the wall after the door removal
I can understand your timeline and it is possible. In my 5+ decades of home repair and remodeling I have had to do the same type of repairs. Here is the way I do it:
Day 1- Clean away loose debris ...
- 42.7k
4
votes
Disposal of hydrochloric acid
You can neutralise the acid by mixing with alkali. However, be careful.
You will need quite a lot of something like baking powder. Or if you have any left over - cement powder.
Add a small amount ...
- 1,286
4
votes
Accepted
Is this retaining wall failing?
The wall may have been built that way but I doubt it, the wall may have shifted over the years and is stable now.
The only way to know is to drop a plumb bob from the upper decking just in front of ...
- 103k
4
votes
Accepted
Can you "refresh" half-dried concrete just by mixing in water?
One thing to consider is that concrete doesn't really "dry" like mud. The water is part of a chemical reaction that hardens the mixture over time. Once the concrete starts to get thick and lumpy, ...
- 28.3k
4
votes
Can I create concrete driveway with forms to get the paver stone look without the need for all the aggregate beneath?
If this was just a patio I'd say you have a good chance of getting some satisfactory results except for the fact that it would be about 2.5" above grade and there's be the possibility of tripping over ...
- 86.2k
4
votes
Proper deck post installation
If I understand your description you're concerned because the posts are encased in concrete with no gravel under the posts.
It would have been good to have gravel under the posts for drainage but it's ...
- 9,235
4
votes
Should Cement Patio be Poured Level with Foundation?
I would pour it below the foundation level for several reasons.
First if the same level it would be easy for a heavy rain to end up inside.
In my current state and 2 others I have lived in the ...
- 103k
4
votes
How to properly patch the "scar" in the wall after the door removal
I would like to backfill much of that scar with some cement product, but I think you could use a setting-type joint compound as a finish coat on top or entirely (no cement product). Setting-type joint ...
- 610
4
votes
Should I attach the toilet flange to the floating sub-floor, or through that into the cement
In my area of the country the majority of homes are built on cement slabs. In these instances toilet flanges are anchored into the concrete.
In practical terms the screws to anchor into the Dricore ...
- 42.7k
4
votes
How can I remove tack strip from cement without leaving holes for the nails?
Any way you get those nails out is going to leave a scar on the concrete. A previous answer to this question would leave the spot flush with no damage to the concrete floor however, it also leaves a ...
- 216
4
votes
Cosmetic work on cement repairs
Rent a concrete grinder and smooth down the new patches into the old surfaces. Then cover with an epoxy concrete paint or put down a chattahoochee surface.
- 86.2k
3
votes
Accepted
bathroom pipe joint leakage behind the ceiling tiles
PVC pipe like that is relatively easy to repair. The general concept is that you cut out the bad section including any fittings and then install new pipe and the necessary fittings to join back to the ...
- 66.5k
3
votes
Accepted
What is an alternative to a cement truck that would allow more working time?
The time from when the cement, water, sand and particulate are mixed till the time the mix should be in your forms is limited. That is a primary reason that a delivery truck can only stay at your lot ...
- 66.5k
3
votes
Accepted
outside cement wall chipped
You can, and should wait until the overnight temperature is above 40. Working with any masonry products in low temperatures brings a bunch of complications you don't need.
If you don't mind a slight ...
- 3,460
3
votes
Accepted
Recommended paint for outdoor cement patio
I would suggest using a colored sealer instead of paint. It is available in several color options. Sherwin Williams is just one of the brands I searched. The sealer will penetrate the concrete so ...
- 11.5k
3
votes
Accepted
Removing pole and concrete base from yard
This is the remnants of a natural gas or propane grill, gas heater, or perhaps a gas lamp. The flared tubing fitting and old control valve stem are the giveaways here.
Look around the structures ...
- 36.7k
3
votes
Accepted
How to patch small holes in concrete slab basement floor?
You can use a variety of patch products.
Premixed concrete patch would work.
Platinum patch
Vinyl spackling
For holes that small i would use the vinyl spackling. You can sand it down if you ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Which cement or mortar will give best result when creating low water diversion barriers?
Hydraulic cement sticks to wet fine, but you may need to abrade the surface to get to clean concrete, as it won't like a greasy, dirty or otherwise befouled surface.
However, what I would actually ...
- 226k
3
votes
Accepted
Lard as release agent?
The lard will work fine. The laminated wood would give you smoother sides and bottom.
- 86.2k
3
votes
Accepted
Why do you need to not use cement when laying block paving?
A properly prepared sand base for the paving blocks provides a level surface, a support for the expected loads on the pavers and a means of allowing rain and other water run-off. The blocks are held ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?
Concrete hardens through a process called hydration. As you'd guess by the name, water is required. It's common practice to place dry post mix with a pool of water standing on top. I haven't seen ...
- 33.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible