What people keep running into with masonry
Complaints tagged masonry, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
39 recurring problems · 717 people · 25 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 7Why are there big soil gaps around my foundation?Clay soil shrinks and pulls away from foundations during hot weather, creating large hand-sized gaps that can lead to structural shifting and cracked tiles inside the home. Homeowners are left uncertain whether to immediately fill these trenches with soil or sand, or wait until the ground stops moving before attempting a fix.
- 6How to get thinset and cemented bricks off a concrete floorThinset and mortar bond aggressively to concrete, making masonry cleanup grueling physical work. Without the right technique or a proper scraper, trying to chip them away by hand leaves behind hardened residue that ruins new flooring installations.
- 6Why does a chimney keep leaking after multiple repairs?Water keeps leaking along the edge of the chimney during heavy storms despite being repaired multiple times by different contractors. This recurring issue leads to black mold returning years later and leaves homeowners wondering if the entire chimney needs to be replaced.
- 4How to fill a wide gap between garage floor and drivewayStandard tube caulk is too narrow for gaps several inches wide, leaving spaces that fill with debris, grow weeds, and risk water erosion at the base. Finding a durable, cost-effective way to cap or fill this space is necessary to prevent structural damage without resorting to methods that quickly fail.
- 4How to attach a wooden post to concrete so it doesn't spinStandard concrete screws like Tapcons often spin out and fail to tighten properly in this application. This leaves the wooden post insecure and prevents you from successfully installing a sturdy railing.
- 4Are drywall cracks in an older house normal settling or structural damage?Older homes naturally shift and settle over time, but previously painted-over cracks resurfacing around doorframes often leave buyers wondering if they purchased a defective house. This uncertainty makes it difficult to know whether to simply patch the gaps with standard DIY materials or hire a professional to check for serious structural defects.
- 4How to tell if bad patio installation is poor workmanshipLarge gaps, chipped stones, and strange finishes after sealing leave homeowners unable to tell whether masonry work is normal or sloppy. This makes it difficult to know whether to confront the contractor or accept the flaws.
- 3Did a sink cleaner clog my air gap?Sink cleaners can leave residue that clogs an air gap, causing water to gush out unexpectedly. This makes it difficult to know whether you need to take the entire pipe out to inspect and clear the blockage.
- 3Backyard paver patio collapsed in the centerA sudden collapse in the middle of a paver patio often happens when the base underneath washes out or settles unevenly, leaving the surface unstable. This makes the area hazardous to use and requires shoring up the surrounding pavers before you can safely rebuild the foundation.
- 2Polymeric sand or concrete for paver joints?Choosing between polymeric sand and concrete comes down to whether you want a flexible joint material that resists weed growth or a rigid edge that locks pavers firmly in place. This uncertainty often halts patio and walkway maintenance projects because homeowners worry about cracking, shifting, or choosing a material that won't hold up to weather.
- 2How to cut granite countertops indoors without a huge messCutting granite indoors generates massive amounts of fine dust or a difficult wet slurry that spreads everywhere. This stops people from being able to safely modify their countertops in place, such as making room for a gas cooktop.
- 2How to fix a patio step that is too highSloping grades and construction miscommunications often create patio steps that exceed maximum building codes, sometimes reaching up to 9 inches high. This results in spans that are too high for a single step or awkward 1.5-inch lips above existing concrete stairs. Homeowners are then forced to figure out how to safely transition these drops or find ways to increase the height of the concrete pad.
- 2Can you use a plate compactor on travertine pavers?Running a plate compactor on travertine carries a high risk of splitting the stone, even when using blankets or cardboard for cushioning. Instead of compacting, you should simply sweep the polymeric sand into the joints and mist it with water.
- 2How to remove iron window security bars with no visible boltsMortared-in security bars without visible bolts must be cut out to comply with fire egress regulations. Because they lack standard fasteners, removing them safely requires heavy-duty tools like an angle grinder to cut through the iron without damaging the surrounding frame.
- 2How to deal with moisture trapped behind basement Drylok paintBasement walls painted with Drylok trap moisture behind the coating, leading to efflorescence, staining, and long-term foundation risks. Because exterior excavation isn't always possible, homeowners are left trying to remove the paint so the wall can breathe and prevent structural damage.
- 2How to fill a deep concrete void under a slab or wallDeep, hard-to-reach wall and slab voids make it difficult to pour or pack material all the way to the top without leaving empty gaps. Without a proper method to squeeze the mix in, the cavity cannot be filled to the brim, leaving the structure vulnerable to sinking.
- 2Why is my exterior brick wall cracking from foundation shifting?Shifting soil from wet and dry weather cycles causes homes to settle and structural movement, leading to repeated cracks in exterior brick walls and doors that need constant shaving down to close. Sealing these cracks only provides a temporary fix because the underlying structural shifting continues to open up new gaps around the corners of the house.
- 2Are gaps in my brick mortar weep holes?Intentional weep holes are easily confused with damaged mortar when people are trying to fill exterior cracks. You can identify genuine deterioration if the mortar has turned to sand, cracked around windows, or left gaps large enough to let daylight shine inside through interior skirting boards.
- 2Best way to fill holes in concrete before paintingRough concrete is covered in thousands of pockmarks and visible block lines that make walls look unfinished. Because applying enough material to hide these flaws is difficult and expensive, people turn to paint as a budget-friendly alternative, but still struggle to fill the holes and smooth the surface beforehand.
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Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.