Help with Tufa Bricks/Blocks
bobn4burton
18 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (33)
davidmcdn
18 years agodaybees
18 years agoRelated Discussions
Achieving natural tufa texture
Comments (12)Your water feature is very nice. Regarding the planters at the Brooklyn Flea Market, are you sure they aren't natural tufa rock? Air entrainment admix adds tiny air bubbles not the larger air pockets you can see in those planters. Air can be pumped into concrete to create larger air bubbles but don't know if you can do that with hypertufa. If you don't break up the peat moss and leave if in larger chunks that will give you large pock marks. If you make your walls thick you can use a water hose to wash away some of the hypertufa mix as soon as you unmold. You can get a free form shape by digging a hole in the ground and forming your planter in the hole. I've done a few in my garden. You need room to dig around the planter to remove it from the ground. Use a masonry bit to drill holes then use a water hose to make the drilled holes look more irregular. Using white Portland cement will give you that whitish look. Any mix you use, add some sand for a more durable mix....See Morehow old is your oldest outdoor tufa project??
Comments (11)"how then, do people make fountains, etc? they must drag them inside over winter?" I wouldn't even be tempted to invest the energy and materials to make a fountain out of tufa, a product with a finite lifespan. Yes, people do it, but I visualize a real mess when it starts to fall apart. WHEN, not IF. People who make concrete outdoor fountains drain them (and make sure they STAY drained) before the first freeze hits. And if the concrete wasn't made with care and attention to details, it may not last long, either. I have the feeling that local climate has a lot to do with the lifespan of hypertufa. Here in the PNW, we get a lot of rain, then sudden freezes. If some water has migrated into the concrete, and then expands when freezing temps hit, the concrete is going to deteriorate. But there are probably places that are dry when the cold temps hit, and there may not be much moisture within the concrete piece itself, and that may promote less cracking and less damage. But that's just my theory. Someone in CA once said: "You can argue with the laws of physics all you want, but you're going to lose." And that's really the bottom line. Sue...See Morereplacement window in block wall with brick exterior
Comments (2)i'm sure we used the fins on our home. i did a quick search and found this..hope it will help. the directions are pretty "thin" on the actual replacement windows, lol...we did double hung pop-out pellas Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.coastalcontractor.net/pdf/2007/0705/0705repl.pdf...See MoreHow to colour coordinate house brick, siding, concrete block exterior
Comments (18)Thank you thank you ALL so much for these amaaaazing comments and support for the colour and landscaping - truly grateful for such a great response. We have considered a back deck - it's one of our upcoming investments we are planning for. And we are getting the entire front yard graded... so we'll be able to properly planted beds - strategically placed to take some attention off the block. We love the drama of the darkest charcoal colour - wow that image attached of the charcoal house is amazing! @housegal200 Thank you @celerygirl for so many colour options - leaning toward the gray shades, on the darker side. We totally plan no shutters. don't plan to paint the brick, and... maybe we will, cause we love to veer when it's a good choice- even if it's last minute. Our plan is to xeroscape overall and have garden beds. Thank you all so much!! we'll check in again in case you have more inspiration to share!! xoxoxoxo...See Morelazydaisy
18 years agotufameister
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agopackrat2
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agopackrat2
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agopackrat
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agoarktikos
18 years agoechoes_or
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agobobn4burton
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agoechoes_or
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agoDebZone8
18 years agoMuddyMesaWoman
18 years agodavidmcdn
18 years agobluejean
18 years agotruegrit
18 years agobluejean
18 years agotruegrit
18 years agobillie_ann
18 years agobluejean
18 years agoBamatufa
18 years agobobn4burton
18 years agobluejean
18 years agopatawren
12 years ago
Related Stories
MATERIALSRaw Materials Revealed: Brick, Block and Stone Help Homes Last
Learn about durable masonry essentials for houses and landscapes, and why some weighty-looking pieces are lighter than they look
Full StoryCONCRETEConcrete Block Style
Industrial flair: See why concrete brick isn't just for retaining walls anymore
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNWhat the Heck Is a Ha-Ha, and How Can It Help Your Garden?
Take cues from a historical garden feature to create security and borders without compromising a view
Full StoryEXTERIORSHelp! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?
Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSEHelp for Selling Your Home Faster — and Maybe for More
Prep your home properly before you put it on the market. Learn what tasks are worth the money and the best pros for the jobs
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKey Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDES8 Tips to Help You Live in Harmony With Your Neighbors
Privacy and space can be hard to find in urban areas, but these ideas can make a difference
Full StorySMALL SPACESDownsizing Help: Storage Solutions for Small Spaces
Look under, over and inside to find places for everything you need to keep
Full StorySponsored
daybees