DIY Network

Masonry and Attic Ventilation From "Talk2DIY Home Improvement" episode TTD-414F

Hosts Brad Staggs and Lynda Lyday get right into the questions --

Adding Brick to Concrete Steps

Problem: I am going to pour concrete steps and would like to add brick to the concrete. How do I do this?

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Figure A

Solution

• Wet down the concrete completely.

• Place the mortar bed down, putting it on thick and getting an even coat.

• Finally, add the brick pavers, preferably thinner brick veneers (figure A), and make sure they are nice and even. Make sure to seal.

  Did you know? You can cut brick pavers with a circular saw outfitted with a masonry blade or with a brick set. A brick set is a chisel with a 3" wide blade that produces a fairly clean cut.

Front Porch Repair

Problem: How do I repair the cracks in the concrete on my front porch?

Solution:

• First, make sure that the concrete slab is structurally sound.

• Be sure to strip away any paint that is on the porch.

• Reform the step with concrete and make sure to support the beam holding up the porch roof.

• Use liquid crack sealer to fix the cracks along the porch and the sidewalk area.

Repairing a Brick Patio

Problem: How do I make a repair in a brick patio floor?

Solution:

• For the interior of the patio floor, purchase a tube of concrete repair, which is elastomeric mortar. Squeeze the product in the mortar joints.

• Next step is to smooth down the mortar in the joints with a jointer.

• If you have some loose bricks, take the entire brick out and make sure all of the mortar has been removed.

• Use asphalt or concrete cleaner to make sure all mortar has been removed. A wire brush may also be good for removing any loose mortar.

• The final step is to use a waterproof sealer to seal the brick patio.

Drilling into Brick

Problem: What is the best way to drill into brick?

Solution:

• A hammer drill makes drilling into brick easier by taking a spinning bit and pounding it back and forth, like a hammer, into brick or concrete.

• Be sure to buy the right bit that will go into brick or concrete. Also, be sure you purchase the correct screws for brick.

• Drill into the brick and when it has a hole in it the depth you would like take the screw and screw it into the brick with an electric screwdriver.

Figure B

Measuring for Cement Steps

Problem: I am going to be making concrete steps and would like to know the correct way to measure for them.

Solution:

• In order to make a cement form for the steps, be sure to measure for the rise and run and how wide the step is.

• You will need an internal form like a reinforcing bar (figure B) before adding cement to the steps.

• To find out the volume of mortar needed, take the width, length, and height and multiply it altogether which will give an idea of the cubic feet of the area.

• An 80-pound bag of concrete covers about 2/3 of a cubic foot, so take 2/3 and divide into the total cubic inches.

DIY Tip: Give cement steps a makeover by stamping them. Paint on a concrete stain, let it dry, and then apply a different stain color to a decorative rubber stamp with a foam paintbrush. Start stamping your own design.

Figure C

Winter Preparations for an Attic

Problem: How can I keep my attic fan from blowing cold air in the winter?

Solution:

• Building a box around an attic fan (figure C) is the best way to keep the fan from blowing cold air in the winter.

• Once the outside box is built, glue foam insulation around the inside of the box.

• Build a hinge and close the box down during the winter months and open it during the summer months.

• Once the box is completely built, you can place caulk around the seams of the box.

Figure D

Best Options for Ventilating an Attic

Problem: What is the best way to ventilate an attic fan?

Solution:

• Using a ventilator that sits on top is one option (figure D). When the wind blows, it blows cooler air in the attic and when heat rises in the attic it blows the heat out the ventilator.

• Powered attic ventilators that go inside a gable vent is another option. The ventilator draws warm air through the attic.

• A ridge and soffit vent folds over the ridge of the roof and over the roof . The decking on the roof is cut back and air comes through this ridge. Be sure to provide enough vents in the soffit to make this work properly.

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