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1-20 of 242 Results
  1. Insulation
    Hello! I am in the process of redoing my basement and I just completed “demo day”. Before moving to insulation I was doing a quick inspection of my foundation walls and noticed two locations where a crack seemed to go from the top of the foundation wall down to what looks like a wet spot but...
  2. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hey all, I'm looking to regrade the soil around my shed so water doesn't continue to damage the sill plate (I'll also be installing gutters). The concrete slab is barely above grade, so I'm looking to excavate soil to expose it another 2-3 inches. I'm concerned about potentially undermining the...
  3. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hi All, I got a quote for seismic retro fit on my 67 one story house. Most of it is straight forward, but I was trying to figure out the details on this part of the quote. "14 (quantity)- Earthquake Retrofit Beam End Bracket Install Simpson LTT Beam End bracket to connect beam to foundation...
  4. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hello everyone! Recently found and fell in love with this forum! Looking forward to soaking up all the knowledge and returning any that I am able! I purchased a home earlier this year that has signs of previous burrowing under parts of the foundation. The previous owner was the original builder...
  5. Building & Construction
    Hi All, Curious if anyone knows how to read this. plan reads: 24"x24"x10" ftg. w/2-#4(G40)E.W. I understand it's 2' by 2' and 10" thick. I assume it's calling for #4 grade 40 rebar. But what does the E.W., how do they want the rebar positioned in the footer. On a another footer it says...
  6. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hello DIY Chatters, I am renovating the basement of our home in Iowa, built in 1900, into a workshop space. The previous owner had applied a thick plaster render to the brick walls that I had to grind off because it was trapping outside moisture, causing mold growth. They had also dug out the...
  7. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    I just got done gutting an old storeroom in my basement that I intend to turn into a large walk in closet. As I got down to the studs, I’ve found a large (1-2in are varying parts of the wall) gap between the foundation wall and slab. I’ve dug down almost 6 inches and there doesn’t appear to be...
  8. Building & Construction
    I installed an egress window in a basement room I’m finishing, and am working on the window well which I plan to build using ground contact-rated 4x6 timbers. Cut ends will be treated, and the bottom course will be supported at the two outside corners with concrete blocks. The well’s bed will be...
  9. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    This crack is at the base, of my exterior above grade foundation wall. I have shopvac’d and air blown out the crack. I know most would suggest: Back Rod & Caulk Selant. ID LIKE TO KNOW CAN/SHOULD! I FILL THIS GAP WITH MORTAR (or anything suggested) THIS GAP IS BELOW THE 2 inch EXTERIOR FACIA...
  10. Building & Construction
    I’m anchoring a post to the cement floor in our barn and seem to have drilled all the way through. It was around 4-5” (I was drilling 7.25”), I didn’t expect it to be that thin. The drilling got a lot easier, and larger and darker pieces started coming up rather than the fine cement dust so I...
  11. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hi, this forum was helpful in solving a foundation leak issue (seems cured by Xypex). I have a smaller leak (maybe a quart of water during heavy rain) in another place, this time, in the foundation under a staircase. Water coming from the bottom, you can see the damp stains. I can't (easily)...
  12. Remodeling
    Hello and Happy New Year to all. I'm renovating a 100 year old house. It's sitting on a single layer brick "foundation". Every 8ft there is a small section that is doubled to create piers (I guess that's the purpose). Anyway, there doesn't appear to be any footing below it, it's buckling, and...
  13. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hello, I am considering buying a house that has recently been remodeled. I have not tried to crawl under to inspect the foundation but I was able to stick my camera under there and snap a few photos. Apparently the foundation has been worked on recently with what appears to be some new chain...
  14. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    good morning, hoping I can get some advice on this! We have a c. 1876 house in CT that has a half brick (above grade, mostly), half fieldstone (below grade) foundation. We are planning on repointing it, using lime mortar from limeworks. I'll post pics at the bottom. Someone had mentioned they...
  15. Building & Construction
    Hey everyone - Looking for some suggestions/guidance on an approach to how much to handle our foundation and joist issues. You can feel where the floor drops in different areas of the house. Of course i notice it more than anyone else. Photo 1 & 2: Sill plate that goes from one perimeter wall...
  16. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hello all, This is NOT a DIY project, but rather I'm looking to gain some more background understanding. I am decently versed in construction and I appreciate your input. A geotechnical firm is recommending, as one option, that we replace our entire foundation. Single family home 1500sq ft...
  17. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hello, Am planning some renovations, and while my inclination is to just treat these stairs as equivalently strong as footers/foundation, is that actually correct? picture below. There is a structure supported by the left hand side of this stair well. bonus questions, if i wanted to extend...
  18. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hello just noticed the one side of the retention wall is very close to my foundation. I had it put in 2 years ago. Is this too close or is it ok? No cracks are around it yet and they may not be that deep in the ground in that area. Just wanted to check with you guys to see if it's OK that it's...
  19. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hey all. I have a walkout basement so on each side of my house, I have 2 terraced retaining walls as the foundation steps down. The old walls were stones in a concave shape. These have been dug out and I'm building with concrete blocks. I'm trying to simplify this as much as possible so I wanted...
  20. Concrete, Stone & Masonry
    Hi got this house a year ago. Had a water main to the home blow apart (coupling failed) in the northeast corner of the home. Lost about 33 thousand gallons of water when it happened. No one was really sure what caused the shift in the soil but the house is on a corner lot on a small hill. We...
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