14
votes
Accepted
How can I break up a small boulder without power tools?
You can go at it with a sledgehammer (or a smaller hand sledge) and a star drill, and then drive wedges into the holes (or if you are patient, fill the holes with water and let them freeze in the ...
- 202k
10
votes
Accepted
Recommended footings for deck built on rock with 5-10% grade?
1" of organic matter on rock? remove all the organic matter from the locations where the footings go, pour concrete footings or piers on the rock surface directly. Might be a good idea to drill ...
- 202k
9
votes
How can I break up a small boulder without power tools?
There exist expanding compounds like this one: Ecobust, which are poured into predrilled holes and expand as they dry, splitting the stone (or concrete). It does require a power tool, unless there are ...
- 363
8
votes
How can I break up a small boulder without power tools?
If it is a nice looking rock or has a particular shape, place it on Craig's list as a free item. I listed four 5" Blue Spruce trees I needed to remove to make way for a garage. Gone over the weekend ...
- 81
7
votes
Recommended footings for deck built on rock with 5-10% grade?
sedimentary rock can be quite soft / should be easy to drill. fine for compressive strength.
drill 8" deep holes using rotary hammer 3/4" quad carbide bits
blow out the holes / clean holes ...
- 13.5k
6
votes
How do you create a foundation for a rock garden?
It is quite simple process.
Instead of plastic, you lay down the special fabric designed for such projects. The fabric allows water to go through and keeps the weeds from coming out.
Simply google: ...
- 985
4
votes
How can I break up a small boulder without power tools?
Without (electrical) power tools, or a sledgehammer:
Here are 10 options besides a hammer or Fire-setting... mentioned in almost every post (but more specifically, for best results use at least 300 ...
- 6,212
4
votes
What are some methods for running water lines above ground?
If it really freezes that little, run it on the ground (or on the surface of the rock after digging to that level) and pile 6 inches or so of sand/dirt on it - haul in sand/dirt if needed. That will ...
- 202k
2
votes
compacting sub-base for artificial grass installation
Yes you still need the pack the rock!
I hope you did not get pea gravel as it will never pack to create a solid base.
crushed rock or shale still needs to be packed if you want a nice base.
If you don’...
- 102k
2
votes
Trying to make a cave wall in my bedroom, anyone have any suggestions how to go about this?
Many years ago I helped with something along these lines. We were aiming for a flatter rock effect and used Artex (the plaster-based material used for textured ceilings) on an already-plastered wall....
- 6,063
2
votes
How do you create a foundation for a rock garden?
I would suggest that the best process would be place a thin layer of gravel (base gravel #3 is likely the best option here), then use a landscape fabric/weed barrier, then place the desired level of ...
- 7,600
2
votes
How can I break up a small boulder without power tools?
Use a crowbar and put another rock under it so that sections of it are unsupported. Now whack it with the sledgehammer a few times.
If you get lucky, it will have a crack in it and you can break ...
- 5,148
2
votes
Reparing rock lath plaster around thermostat wires in wall...need troubleshooting advice!
From your original picture, here's how I would have repaired it:
Use some small pieces of (scrap) wood as strapping. Big enough to form a good support but small enough so you can get them into the (...
- 28.9k
1
vote
Drilling in bedrock
Don't know about your local market, but in our regions a matching SDS-max tool for roughly 63mm+ bedrock is more costly than the estimanted rent for an diamond wet core drill.
It isn't impossible with ...
- 3,064
1
vote
Need help finding Display stone to finish Off the French Drain
This is called "river rocks" or "river pebbles". In your setting they lie on top of gravel.
This is called "flagstone" or "sandstone":
How you want to finish ...
1
vote
What is "3 inch minus"?
Old post but i thought i'd add my two cents. Granted the definition can vary from region to region, but i don't think any of the above got it right. Any time I have dealt with any aggregate in the ...
- 11
1
vote
Trying to make a cave wall in my bedroom, anyone have any suggestions how to go about this?
How about wall paper, it looks good in the picture!
https://www.amazon.com/wall26-Background-Removable-Self-Adhesive-Wallpaper/dp/B07VJLBTXP/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=Faux%2BRock%2BPanels&qid=...
- 6,196
1
vote
Can I set fence post concrete next to large rock?
I wouldn't anticipate any problem.
My concern is using tubes in the ground, but this might be a country specific thing.
We only use tubes to support concrete where it is out of the ground. We find the ...
- 3,274
1
vote
Accepted
Building patio using natural stone and mortar
Nothing magical, a lot of hard labor to move the random-sized rocks.
I'll clean an area out of the rocks, dig to the depth equal to the largest rock in that group, then provide a thick layer of the ...
- 3,362
1
vote
Accepted
Materials for rock wall repair
Your “wall” looks more like a “curb” than a wall. I can’t tell from the picture, but it doesn’t look like it’s holding back any dirt (like a retaining wall).
I’d use Type S mortar because it is ...
- 3,748
1
vote
Crushed cinder block a substitute for crushed stone?
Depends on the height of the retaining wall and what it’s holding back.
We like footings on undisturbed soil. In fact, depending on the soil we might compact it too.
If the soil is soft, we may ...
- 23.1k
1
vote
Accepted
Best way to fill gaps between lumber and masonry or rocks
I have seen fine wood dust mixed with a putty of some kind mixed and placed inside gaps, if the wood is stained then also add a little stain to match the color.
Sanding down to the exact shape would ...
- 26
1
vote
Accepted
Driveway Erosion Problem
One of the things I have done in the past with crushed rock driveways is pack it with a roller or plate compactor until there is no movement, then use some Portland cement on the surface and broom the ...
- 102k
1
vote
How can I make use of bricks, rock and miscellaneous fill left in my yard?
You could create some really cool mosaics.
Here’s my favorite. It’s of Greek women on the island of Sicily (before it was Italian) doing their athletic competitions in bikinis.
They say the bikini ...
- 23.1k
1
vote
Can I break up stones and overlay soil to grow lawn?
I don't think that expanding foam stuff will split granite. (Looks like granite in your pix)
To directly answer your question: If you can break up the rocks, then go for it. I think you need 6" to ...
- 3,654
1
vote
Large rock obstructing addition
Bedrock - skip the basement, have the best foundation money can't buy. Remove the dirt, drill holes for pins to anchor your footings to the rock, build a house on it - or a skyscraper.
If you have ...
- 202k
1
vote
Prep for painting an old, interior, coquina rock fireplace wall?
Unfortunately, I think your only choices are leave it or demomolish it. I don’t think building a facade wall will work, you may protrude too far past the trim. People will wonder what you are trying ...
- 46
1
vote
Prep for painting an old, interior, coquina rock fireplace wall?
STOP. please, just stop. I am not allowing you to do this.
someone has to tell you frankly that is the absolute worst solution. First of all, it is going to be impossible to make a flat wall with ...
- 11
1
vote
Prep for painting an old, interior, coquina rock fireplace wall?
So I jumped on YouTube to refresh my memory on dealing with this.
For a while people were just demo-ing them altogether.
You seem to implying an intent to fill and cover the entire surface for a ...
- 51
1
vote
Retaining wall back fill/base rock and pool base rock
The rock under the "stack block" wall is different than the rock behind it.
The rock under the wall needs to be crushed rock and compacted. In my area around here, we'd use 1 1/2" minus (with fines) ...
- 23.1k
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