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Home improvement and renovation tips

Concrete block walls 3 – laying it

We've calculated how much we need, and mixed the mortar. Now, let's lay it. Two tips to start: Mortar dries quickly, so mix it in small batches. Note that a block has a top and a bottom. The top has more surface for the mortar.Lay out a dry run on the footing, spacing each block ...

Concrete block walls 2 – ordering mortar

Last time, we calculated the number of blocks you need. Next step: calculate and mix the mortar for your wall.To mix your own, each block requires about .003 cubic yards of sand and each cubic yard of sand requires 1/3 of a yard (12 bags) of masonry cement. The mix is one part cement, 3 ...

Concrete block walls 1 – how to build one

How many blocks will it take?Sometimes you can save a lot on a big job by handling some of the work yourself. Building a concrete block wall for a new addition is heavy work, but if you can handle that, it's not that complicated. Here are some guidelines.Figure out how many blocks you need.1) Measure ...

Soundproof your finished basement

Before you finish off that basement home theater or family room, take into account the noise factor. No, not the noise of that action movie or the kids playing up a storm. The noise coming from upstairs.Overhead noise can disrupt the comfortable atmosphere or good listening environment you're trying to create. Here's how you can ...

Keep your concrete from cracking up

Here are some of the most common causes of cracked concrete, and what you can do to prevent it.1. Too much water. Extra water in the mix makes concrete easier to pour and work with. But it also weakens the concrete and makes it likely to crack. Concrete shrinks as it dries, so the wetter ...

Cures for wet basements, part 2

Wet basements can often be cured by improving drainage outside, and we looked at this last time. But if you want to finish your basement, let's get back inside for a final inspection.Look for cracks, open joints between walls and floors, or crumbling mortar between concrete blocks, and fill them with a mortar that expands ...

Cures for wet basements

While the spring rains may be forgotten, this is a perfect time of year to make sure your basement's dry next year. First off, how much water should you worry about? Even if you're not finishing a room or storing anything in your basement, high humidity or standing water can breed unhealthy mold and mildew.If ...