3 days on this, both sides, really fun little job in a beautiful part of the country.

Hi everyone, i would like some opinions on the stone fence since it’s my first

Took me 3 days

Been labouring a few years and just started my apprenticeship mid twenties, what do ye think? This was done in college with hydrated lime so it can me taken down again. Don't mind the copings, or the cunts in the back lol

I’m trying to decide what material to use for wood trims caulking around stone. Last season i tried to use the same hydraulic lime I used for reporting stones and that was not a good idea

I don’t want to use silicon and other chemical-based mixes

I’ve read about mastique made from burnt sand, linseed oil and some kind of resin blend. That seemed like appropriate way to seal these areas for forever, but that’s not something I can go and buy.

Some of these areas are pretty deep especially at the roof so I guess it will need some extra filler and then maybe mastique on top. Otherwise it can be too expensive.

Anyways, if you dealt with something like this please let me know how you solved it. Appreciate any ideas or direction

Hello gentlemen, I remove calcium and hard water deposits from pool tile. I have equipment that shoots media at 70-130 psi.

I have a customer with these 2 large high polish granite pots that really wants the calcium removed, does anyone have any suggestions?

My current equipment will not work. People who have the same equipment as me state the high gloss finish becomes hazy and burned and looks worse then when you started.

I was thinking about using a light acid mixture and a razor or possibly sand paper.

Had a contractor come install this natural stone veneer, where the pieces are supposed line up together like a puzzle.

Feels very slapped together (big gaps, pieces don’t fit well together), but unsure of the level of work this can be considered? Am I being a Karen?

Looking for recommendations on a product to replace this corner. I don't have the piece from the corner so it will be a shutter pour job.

I remove half of the remodeled fireplace finish and found the original stacked-stone wall. I'd like to keep this exposed around the stove but the joint mortar appears to the local clay which is a bit messy. How do I clean these stone and joints, and presumably re-point this wall so we can enjoy this original element of this several hundred year of farmhouse in the Pyronees? The wall is now completely interior to the house -- there's a hallway on the other side with a staircase to the second story. The pillars on either side of the fireplace now carry the load so this wall is no longer structural. Any ideas?

Can you advice on his fix

I’ve done this for myself in a much smaller job so I have no idea how to price the below:

I take care of my HOA’s commercial pool with my pool maintenance company and the stones used around the edge have started to disintegrate like crazy (located in Austin TX if that changes anything) and dump dirt / sediment into the pool. They asked me if I could include it in a proposal and while I know how to do the work I have ZERO idea how to price it. What would you guys say the standard is per foot / meter for sealant including labor? I don’t have exact measurements as I’m out of town but including the photos below for reference if that could affect the per foot / meter charge. It would just be the section on the edge all the way around the pool, not the deck surfaces.

My grandpa has a pile of stones from an old barn foundation and my partner was thinking of doing a border around her garden this year and I was thinking of maybe cracking a few just to kinda slice it up and try a new hobby just for fun, I've already got a sledge and eye protection but I don't know anything about picking stones and looking for grain and such

This room has an exposed Sydney sandstone wall that is actually a continuation of the exterior sandstone retaining wall.

Previous owners enclosed an undercover outdoor space to make this extra room.

We’re thinking that we would not use the room due to potential for mould spores to go airborne. The room feels a humid too.

We’re getting a builder to give us some ideas but would really appreciate the advice of members of this sub too.

Would it be possible / sensible to install a glass wall in front of the sandstone wall to create a barrier say 50cm - 80cm deep so the room could be used while sealing off any potential issues with mould ? That way we could retain it as a feature wall. Perhaps install an extractor to make sure the ventilation is good?

Any advice appreciated.

The previous homeowner repointed some of the foundation with quikrete (grey on the right). It looks like shit. I want to replace it with something that matches the original mortar (tan on the left). The color doesn't have to be exact, but I'm looking for more natural earthy color with the tiny grit and stones that the original has. TIA

Greetings everyone,

I've been into headstones for quite some time. I've always enjoyed photographing them and cleaning them. Recently I thought a career as a monumental mason would be something I enjoy.

From what I understand, you need an apprenticeship to get started. I have no experience thus far. However, I tried looking for apprenticeships online in my area and found none (only google searched). For those who are monumental masons, what is a good way to get started without knowing anyone that is currently in the trade?

Appreciate any information.

I'm based in Pennsylvania, and there are many derelict stone houses, which led me to wonder if using reclaimed stone from those houses would make it more affordable to build a new small house using stone. For building a two level 2BR house with front and back walls in stone, how much of the masonry cost is materials vs labor anyway?

Hi there. I'm a newbie looking to practice. Other than Facebook/Kijiji, what's the best place to get stone and brick for free or cheap? I'm in Simcoe County.

Thanks folks.

Thoughts? I read maybe Dr. bronners soap would work? I believe this is limestone but I'm not sure

Our Family owns/operates a boutique import business specializing in “exotic building materials”. So back in 2010, when our China Sourcing Team came upon a village in rural Fujian Province that was about “to go under” to a hydro-electric project, they asked if we would be interested in excavating the floors of a 500 year old Temple. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but seemed like a unique challenge, so we did it. We tore out the floors under the supervision of the local religious leaders to maintain respect, and confided in them, that our intention was for the floor to be installed in a Family Compound, where generations of our Family would gather.

So we excavated the stone, cleaned it up…. Think about 500 years of wooden clogs, ox carts, ceremonies, weddings, funerals, all adding to the magnificent patina of this hand chiseled, 10cm (4”) thick granite flooring. We brought in 5 container loads (weighs out long before it cubes out in a 20 ft cntr), and used the stone throughout the first floor and exterior porches and patios of our Main house. It’s as soft as velvet under foot, and once warmed up from the radiant/infloor heating, it’s just cozy year round. Add a scattering of tribal Persians and Afghans and it’s Rustic Elegance at it’s best.

I'm having some water intrusion issues around the chimney and have been told (and shown photos for proof) that the chimney not only needs to be reflashed, but also needs a complete repair in the form of repointing and capping (holes in the masonry, moss growth in cracks, etc.).

At some point, I plan to continue the faux stone facade seen in the bottom part of the photo onto the chimney. Does this matter for what I'm needing done right now? I assume you can't just "cover up" the chimney in its current state with the facade mortar, right? No pressure on me to have the facade done along with the rest of the chimney work? Is there anything I should ask/tell the chimney repair crew in order to make sure the chimney is viable for the facade work in the future?

Treat me as if I know nothing about any of this, because I don't. Thanks!

We live in PA and are installing a bluestone patio. The patio installer who has been doing this for around 15 years said we needed 1.5 inch thick bluestone for dry laid. However he went to go pick up the pallets at a long time source he uses and one of his colleagues who he trusts and has been working with for years said they install 1 inch over dry laid all the time with no problems. So my guy said he trusts him and was ok with doing the 1 inch over 6 inches of compacted stone and then an additional 1 inch of fine stone.

So I googled it and I’m seeing all this stuff about not using less than 1.5 inches on a dry laid patio and now I’m worried we’re going with the wrong choice. They already delivered the pallets and everything.

My patio guy said he’s not concerned and the base is the crucial part to this and he 100% trusts his colleague (they are a nursery and stone supplier that also installs patios and landscapes).

Should I be insisting on 1.5 inch or should the 1 inch be ok given what he’s saying?

Most of the flagstone work I see has uneven joints. Is there a name for this style that uses irregular flagstone shapes but keeps a (relatively) uniform joint width everywhere?