This is not a normal column of mine. I’m sitting in my man cave writing this column several hours before I talk to Amanda on the phone. She lives in Oklahoma and her new home covered with artificial stone made from colored and textured concrete is leaking when it rains and the wind blows. These […]
Use Clinkers to Make Interesting Things QUESTION #1: Timmy, I was on a tour of the Gamble house in Pasadena, CA and saw the most unusual deformed brick in a garden wall. The brick was twisted and looked more like random rocks than brick. I want some for my own house! How are clinker brick […]
Stop Brick Leaks Question #1: Help me, Tim! When a blowing rain lashes my brick-veneer home, water streams down over the inside of my foundation in the basement. I thought brick was waterproof. What’s happening and is there a way to minimize, or eliminate, the water from entering my home? What could have been done […]
Ask the Builder Podcast 11 Highlights: Bruce's new blacktop drive needs support at one edge Jack's brick home leaks in driving rains Diane has crumbling concrete steps Tim shares a story about new ceramic tile bubbling up off a floor! NOTE: Transcript of this story below. CLICK to LISTEN to Tim's AsktheBuilder Podcast 11. Podcast Sponsor: […]
Colorize and Stain Mexican Tile - Use a Masonry Stain It's so very easy to colorize Mexican tile. You can also stain patio pavers or Mexican tile using a liquid translucent stain. Stain Patio Pavers Advice From Heaven The advice you get from some experts is not always the best. Many people seem […]
Brick Wall Leaks Driving Rain TIPS All brick walls leak water Water must be captured and released back to the outside WATCH brick wall construction video below Silane / siloxane sealers can stop most leaks in existing walls CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: As result of Hurricane Irma, I […]
Brick Mortar Repair Mix TIPS Use same mortar Romans used to build aqueducts Hydrated lime mortar with secret volcanic ash - SEE BELOW links WATCH tuck-pointing videos below Be careful of amount of water used to mix new mortar CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter DEAR TIM: It appears I wasted some […]
Texture and color matching of your mortar to use in a brick or masonry repair job takes a bit of legwork. You will have to determine the size of the sand used in your mortar. Your mortar will also need cement and lime. Bricklayers from your area may be able to direct you to the source of sand used in older homes.
Brick Wall Leakage Repair TIPS Water can't pool against brick walls Create positive drainage using a thin concrete overlay Use cement paint for permanent repair - WATCH VIDEOS below Silane-siloxane sealers can prevent water from entering brick CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: There's an area in our garage that's […]
Drainage Paving Stones Out in nature when it rains on soil, most of the water goes into the ground. Yeah, this column is about drainage paving stones, but you need to know something first. I say this assuming: it's not a downpour the soil is not saturated from days of rain the soil isn't frozen […]
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