24
votes
How to stop a wall from falling
I hate to tell you this, but your barn is toast. Have it demolished before it kills some curious soul who wanders inside out of morbid fascination.
- 12.5k
19
votes
Hanging string lights from stone
I would only drill that stone as an absolute last resort. That not only damages it in an unrecoverable way but opens it up to faster degradation from weather, especially if you're in a frost zone.
...
- 129k
18
votes
How to stop a wall from falling
For the love of God, don't do anything from inside, to avoid collapsing on you.
I would get a 2x6 for the top bracing and a couple of 2x4's for the bracing. Nail the bracing to the top bracing, away ...
- 1,593
15
votes
How to demolish old stone walls safely?
Taking down the wall safely is not the only issue. You wrote in comments:
there's no legal problem here because we own all the land surrounding the house that isn't ours, and the connection between ...
- 1,629
14
votes
What's the best fastener for natural stone?
You should consider using a chemical stud anchor. If you've ever been to something built inside a cave you've probably seen these.
A chemical stud uses an epoxy to hold a fastener into the material. ...
- 9,413
12
votes
How to demolish old stone walls safely?
I would say you need a track drive excavator that has a bucket with a grabbing thumb.
You would use the excavator to grab and place the "debris from the old roof and 4th wall that have fallen&...
- 13.5k
12
votes
What's the best fastener for natural stone?
Here's a partial answer: Tapcon's customer support answered my question saying that they are not for use in stone, only concrete, block and brick.
- 34.3k
10
votes
Can a non-professional drill holes in a granite countertop?
I am a granite top fabricator, and every time I drill a hole in granite or marble, it always scares me. I think, "what if I crack this top by making the slightest error; I better pay attention and ...
- 101
8
votes
What's the best fastener for natural stone?
Tapcon™ screws, as their name implies, work by cutting (tapping) a thread into a predrilled hole in concrete. I wouldn't expect that to work well, if at all, in a less granular material, but I have no ...
- 27.5k
7
votes
Looking for advice repairing granite stair tiles
Jack gave a great answer and I've upvoted it, but I'd rather see you use a polyurethane construction adhesive, which is made for a job like this, instead of a silicone caulk. I've seen silicone caulk ...
- 10.9k
6
votes
Faux stone on a bedroom wall is blocking the vent
Argh!!!
Definitely get rid of that!
Assuming that this "faux stone" is actually one of:
Actual stone, sliced thin
Concrete, molded and colored to look like stone
Ground up stone mixed with &...
5
votes
Accepted
Can a non-professional drill holes in a granite countertop?
You can absolutely do this yourself with a powerdrill and 21 dollar diamond hole saw from HD. For a standard faucet hole, you need a 1 3/8" diamond hole saw. I ended up not only drilling the faucet ...
- 66
4
votes
Accepted
Should I install the vanity, or the split faced stone first?
I've installed that tile. It's not to hard to cut--even by hand as you can just cut through the mesh backing. Even easier with a tile saw. So I'd suggest not tiling more than you have to and live with ...
- 24.2k
4
votes
How do I remove the back lip from paving stones?
Listen, I just did this. It is extremely simple. Buy a 4 inch diamond tip bit for your angle grinder. (Masonry cutting wheel). Score a 1/4 inch line on the inside of the block and then tap (yes TAP) ...
- 41
4
votes
What type of paint can I use for exterior flagstone?
Painting brick makes a beautiful, durable, maintenance-free surface into something that's none of those. Instead, you could stain the brick. There are masonry stains that will color the brick and keep ...
4
votes
Accepted
Installing 'TruStone' veneer, directly on painted drywall?
Probably not a good idea. As you said, the stones are heavy. If you could guarantee a solid rest on the floor, maybe, but I'd simply cut out the drywall a few inches inside your stone area, replace it ...
- 129k
4
votes
Accepted
Unable to drill into window lintel - what have I got wrong?
Plate steel has been used to support lintels when the span is over some distance. That detail is obsolete now un the US but I'm not sure when they stopped doing it. Now-days its plenty of re-bar and ...
- 441
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 ...
- 102k
4
votes
Accepted
Placing stone over metal fireplace face. Is this possible?
The manufacturer of the fireplace is okay with it, so you definitely can. I have done it many times and I found it the best option is to use cement board and then the appropriate application method ...
- 6,314
4
votes
Hanging string lights from stone
There are many plastic concrete anchors you can use for this. The one I like best it the one pictured below. They come in a variety of sizes and will match the screw hooks you'd like to use. Your ...
- 78.7k
4
votes
Hanging string lights from stone
Personally I wouldn't drill it. I'd get some adhesive hooks, then throw away the adhesive part and use construction adhesive instead. That should be plenty strong to hold some outdoor string lights.
- 1,426
4
votes
How do I attach natural stone to backerboard in a shower
Normally the stone is applied directly to the backer board once the pieces are set a grout is used between the stones (today I would recommend epoxy grout). After grout a sealer can be used , I have ...
- 102k
4
votes
How can I fit a wooden wall to a stone wall?
"Look nice" is a highly subjective criterion.
One approach to that sort of junction is to scribe a trim board.
One tacks a trim board in a vertical position touching the stone, and then sets ...
- 201k
4
votes
Looking for advice repairing granite stair tiles
That would be one of the places I would use silicone caulk, a full bed of it after the excess roughness from the old bond is cleaned up. This should or could be done with a right angle grinder with a ...
- 34.2k
3
votes
Drill hole through rock wall?
Diamond hole saws work well for this with water. If this is anything like the stone foundations I have worked with there will never be a straight mortar line that could be used. On one of the first ...
- 102k
3
votes
What type of backer board do I need to use to attach a stone veneer around a fireplace?
If you are using real Stone, one thing to consider, the wall doesn't support the weight , it just hold it from moving horizontally, any real Stone need a firm base to sit on like a heart or Concrete ...
- 31
3
votes
What type of paint can I use for exterior flagstone?
In Dallas TX people are painting perfectly good brick because they think it is a design choice. I personally would never paint perfectly good brick.
In my neighborhood of brick facade homes I have, ...
- 20.9k
3
votes
How to fix rocking stone slab stair?
One approach is to pry up one of the tottering edges up slightly and inject exterior construction adhesive (some are rated for stone/masonry) a few inches in and staying well away from the outside ...
- 33.6k
3
votes
Can I use Kerdi Board instead of Cement Board to thinset natural stone tile?
All cement products contain silicates, from the sand use in the cement. It won't be breathable unless you create dust by cutting or breaking the panels.
That being said, I don't see instructions for ...
- 1,664
3
votes
How should I support a stone mantel on a brick fireplace?
That is a pretty big piece of rock.
It would probably be better to distribute the load by using brackets.
In the photo above, the mantle is wood, but the principle for stone is the same.
What you ...
- 6,789
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