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Q. It’s not unusual for a foundation to be slightly out of square. If the house has brick veneer siding, it’s sometimes necessary for the first course of bricks to overhang the concrete foundation. What is the maximum safe overhang in such a situation?
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A durable job depends on using the right mortar, anchoring the stone to the concrete, and providing weep holes for water that penetrates the veneer.
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Initial foundation settlement can leave vertical cracks in brick veneer cladding, which, though ugly, pose no structural problem. A North Carolina builder describes how he makes the repairs, using tricks gleaned from masons.
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Q: When rebuilding a chimney above the roofline, is it okay to reuse the existing bricks? I have heard that mortar does not stick as well to reused bricks as it does to new bricks. Is this true?
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When is a flue too big to vent an appliance safely?
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Q: We are restoring a 19th-century Victorian home with a painted brick exterior. The client wants to remove the six or more existing layers of paint, down to the natural brick. What is the best way to remove the paint without destroying the brick or morta
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Q: In the April 2000 issue of JLC (Letters), Rex Cauldwell recommended treating acidic water that eats copper pipe. Our water has a pH of 6.2 and definitely eats copper. What kind of water treatment equipment do I need? retrofit; painting interior brick
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Using quoins to add visual appeal to brick facades
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Concrete expert Brent Anderson explains the code rules and structural issues surrounding foundation footings. Included are discussions of when and where to place rebar and what to do if a footing is poured slightly out of place.
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In the face of Cape Cod’s wind-driven rain, lead pan flashings have successfully protected chimney openings for decades. A mason explains the installation process.