Articles By Syndicated Columnist
Dan Thomas
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Improvement Inside And Out
Brick And Concrete
To remove white powdery surfaces on brick or concrete, go over them with a
stiff brush. Wet the surface with a weak 5% solution of muriatic acid and
water, leaving it on for five minutes. Brush the wall and rinse it immediately
with clear water. Work a 4-foot square section at a time.
When you are pouring concrete steps, be sure to use solid objects as
filler: hollow objects buried in concrete - pieces pipe, for example have a
tendency to float to the surfaceA smooth concrete surface is a hazard on
outdoor steps. After concrete has set, but while it is still workable, run a
stiff broom across the steps to roughen the surface.
Making a pilot hole with a masonry nail at the exact spot where you want to
drill can make drilling in masonry easier.
Prevent wooden forms from sticking to the concrete by painting the parts
what will be in contact with the cement with oil.
When laying a brick patio start from a corner of the patio near the house
and work outward toward the edges.
Laying a dry brick patio is quite simple. Dig out the area needed, edge the
excavation with weather-resistant boards staked into place, and spread out a
sand base 2 1/4 inches deep. Gently spray the base with water, then tamp it down until it is at a 2 inches level and let it dry. Position the bricks,
fitting them tightly and making sure they are level.
Pour sand on the bricks, sweep it into the crevices, sprinkle with water,
and repeat as necessary to fill the gaps.
When you are building a stone retaining wall, make sure you dig below the
frost line for your footing. Otherwise, the wall could fall apart.
If you put sand on top of asphalt sealer, it will prevent the sealer from
sticking to your shoes.
Small cracks in blacktop can be patched with sand and liquid blacktop
sealer. Pour sand along the crack to fill it partway. Then pour the blacktop
sealer into the crack over the sand, which will absorb the sealer quickly. If
necessary, repeat until the surface is smooth.
