Cracking and Crazing

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Building a Reinforced Concrete Block Wall

A mason describes how he detailed a pair of large block walls to carry severe... More

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Preventing Chimney Cap Failure

Chimney caps are too often poorly detailed and are the first part of the chimney... More

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Building Poured-Concrete Homes

Forming and pouring four 2,500-square-foot houses is all in a day's work for this... More

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Ordering Ready-Mix Concrete

There’s more to concrete than water, cement, sand, and stone. An experienced batch plant manager talks about the admixtures that help you match the mix to the job. More

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Making Brick Repairs Disappear

Initial foundation settlement can leave vertical cracks in brick veneer cladding,... More

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Trade Talk: Can You Substitute Synthetic Fibers for Wire Mesh?

Although contractors often substitute synthetic fibers for wire mesh in concrete... More

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Q&A: Foundation Wall Cracks

Q: Within 60 days of pouring a concrete basement, some vertical cracks appeared. The cracks are between 1/32 inch and 1/16 inch wide, and extend from the top of the foundation wall down about 4 to 5 feet. My subcontractor tells me that the foundation is s More

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Tips for Crack-Free Concrete Slabs

For a high-quality slab, prepping the base and proper layout of control joints are... More

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Kitchen & Bath: Preventing Cracks in Solid-Surface Countertops

Preventing cracks in solid-surface counters More

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Q&A: Fibermesh Reinforcement

Q: I’m working on a project with a 2-inch thick colored concrete topping slab installed over a 5-inch thick structural slab on grade. There will be #15 felt installed between the two slabs, so they can move independently. I am considering using fibermesh to minimize cracks in the topping slab. If I use fibermesh, can I omit the usual welded wire mesh? Also, I have heard that there is a type of sealer that can be mixed into the concrete to help preserve the color and finish of the topping slab. Do you know about this product? More

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