Gulf Island Building.

cocobolo · 05-30-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlhaslip

How do you plan to tie the block to the wall?

Nice flowers. The Lilacs here are stinking us out... I love it.

Gravity should do it.

cocobolo · 05-30-2010, 08:34 PM

First thing I did was to lay out a course of bricks and draw a line one paint stick wide away from the bricks. That way I could make sure they were somewhere near the right place.

cocobolo · 05-30-2010, 08:35 PM

As I went up I kept filling the holes with mortar.

cocobolo · 05-30-2010, 08:38 PM

I'm far from the fastest mason on the planet, so this took quite awhile. I tried to keep every course as level as possible.

Once at the top I floated a layer of mortar on to give a good base for the top tiles.

Now it will sit for two days to cure.

cocobolo · 05-30-2010, 09:37 PM

The combined weight of the bricks and mortar is 462 lbs. So the step will likely be 500 lbs with the tile and thinset. Certainly more than I would have thought.

Since the base is already mortar, it should stick like s... to a blanket.

cocobolo · 05-31-2010, 04:06 PM

While I am waiting for time to pass by, I have made up a gadget to hold the porcelain tiles at 22 1/2º. These I will cut to go around the outside of a 45º corner, a couple of them in fact.

cocobolo · 05-31-2010, 04:08 PM

There is only a very thin sliver coming off the end of the tile, and it appears from this photo that the tile is chipping badly. But, in fact, this is the way the tiles are on the edge. I shall have to do something to ease the sharp edge.

cocobolo · 05-31-2010, 04:12 PM

There has been a flurry of pm's about hosta's (of all things) and I promised to show how ours are doing.

It is still raining like gangbusters here, weather which the hosta's just love.

The one with the big leaves will get about twice that big within the next few weeks.

Bud Cline · 05-31-2010, 04:45 PM

Don't know how I missed this thread but I gotta tell ya this is amazing. Very impressive stuff my friend. I'll take some time and catch up on the reading but in the meantime I have to say:

I have few words for guys like you that live in places like you do and those words are......

BUD CLINE TILE CONTRACTING
SINCE 1976
HAVE TOOLS WILL TRAVEL

shumakerscott · 05-31-2010, 04:54 PM

You should be able to play with the sharp edge when you grout it, get a little messy and blend it in. I wait to see what you come up with. dorf dude...

gma2rjc · 05-31-2010, 04:59 PM

The Hostas are pretty! Your wife must enjoy working in the yard. She did a fantastic job with the landscaping.

Thanks for posting the pics!

cocobolo · 05-31-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud Cline

Don't know how I missed this thread but I gotta tell ya this is amazing. Very impressive stuff my friend. I'll take some time and catch up on the reading but in the meantime I have to say:

I have few words for guys like you that live in places like you do and those words are......

BUD CLINE TILE CONTRACTING
SINCE 1976
HAVE TOOLS WILL TRAVEL

Thanks Bud... I just LOVE your comment!

cocobolo · 05-31-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumakerscott

You should be able to play with the sharp edge when you grout it, get a little messy and blend it in. I wait to see what you come up with. dorf dude...

Hi Shu:

I'm going to have to do a bit of checking into this, but I don't want the extreme edge (on the outside of the corner) to be too sharp. I just picked up a rubbing stone - haven't used it yet.

I think I will be looking for Bud Cline's advice on what is best to do.

cocobolo · 05-31-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gma2rjc

The Hostas are pretty! Your wife must enjoy working in the yard. She did a fantastic job with the landscaping.

Thanks for posting the pics!

As always, thank you...and you're welcome.

Bud Cline · 05-31-2010, 07:19 PM

Now that I'm aware of how convenient everything is for you to get a hold of, I would have suggested a sharpening stone, so your on the right track.

I often use a knife sharpening stone made with a diamond surface but the stone stone will work also. It's slow going but - Hey!

I also have four inch grinders with various diamond attachments I use for different types of ceramic and stone tile. A belt sander works and so does an orbital sander but everyday aluminum oxide paper wears rapidly. The best paper is silicone carbide but not readily available most places.