The Home Improvement Thread

[Oswego]

Boss and manager said brand doesn't matter. Just be sure it's closed cell. I only send my guys 3/4" or 1" diameter and they can cut it down onsite if needed. I never send anything smaller.

tip - if you do a long run of caulk - leave (1-2) 1/2" gaps/holes open. You could even leave a straw in it so bees don't get back in as well - just something to stop the joint from blowing out from pressure before it's cured. Sometimes if you caulk something closed and it gets hit by sun the pressure can blow it out screw it all up. After the long runs have cured you can go back and fill the small gaps.

 

[Oswego]

I have seen some just use various mortar, not sure that is a good idea.

You are right - it's a horrible idea.

You never want dissimilar materials that expand and contract at different rates attached together via rigid materials. Especially ones that are wicking/porous like most mortars are

Same reasons people who use mortar on log cabins rot them out.

You want an elastic/flexible caulk that flex's more than 30% and doesn't wick moisture

 

[Oswego]

also if you have time and $$ do your sidewalks at the same time.

I used disposable spoons as my caulk slickers for tooling the joints, but now I have a full set of stainless steel caulk slickers.

 

[Silverback]

I need to do that to my driveway. After almost 7 years the wood expansion joints are falling apart.

 

[Taco Loco]

I need to do that to my driveway. After almost 7 years the wood expansion joints are falling apart.

Pressure wash, Dig out the old, wedge new treated strips in, and then fill in with expansion joint compound, if not too large of gap, just use the compound

 

[CowboyTaco]

Our driveway has the expansion joints where they essentially just run a scraper through so that it has the appearance of expansion joints, but still filled with concrete. We also already have several cracks and it is under 2 years old. Not overly happy about that, but not sure I have any recourse either. I suppose I'll be checking out what our home warranty covers. If not, I'll be looking for a way to patch the cracks and keep them from getting worse.

In other news, y'all remember the chainsaw that I couldn't get running in Arkansas? Well, I got it running yesterday! Took down a pine tree that was dead and made some firewood for the chiminea. I need to take down a few more trees, so that'll probably happen soon.

 

[Oswego]

You can cut some joints yourself to help it crack where you want it to then fix and fill the old ones. Only need to get the top inch or so depending on conditions. My guys cut out concrete for floor closers all the time and they use a worm saw or grinder.

 

[Anathollo]

Our driveway has the expansion joints where they essentially just run a scraper through so that it has the appearance of expansion joints, but still filled with concrete. We also already have several cracks and it is under 2 years old. Not overly happy about that, but not sure I have any recourse either. I suppose I'll be checking out what our home warranty covers. If not, I'll be looking for a way to patch the cracks and keep them from getting worse.

In other news, y'all remember the chainsaw that I couldn't get running in Arkansas? Well, I got it running yesterday! Took down a pine tree that was dead and made some firewood for the chiminea. I need to take down a few more trees, so that'll probably happen soon.

You sure those just aren't relief cuts and not actual expansion joints? A lot of times they'll make a small cut (usually a 1/4 of the overall slab thickness) to keep large cracks from expanding pass the relief cut. The relief cuts won't go through the entire slab.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Not sure what the proper term would be. I'll grab a picture later.

 

[Oswego]

when I was sub shopping for my moms concrete driveway years ago I wanted a 4" fiber reinforced high psi concrete slab. Stole a spec (warranty) and details from a commercial job I was on where they had all the handicapped spots concrete (local codes here in some spots). I found out real quick - no one gives a crap up here about a small residential 3 car driveway. Every guy I talked to would not guarantee against cracks and the good ones pretty much guaranteed they would crack due to her soil conditions. I ended up going with the guy who was truthful and midpriced. He used mesh instead of fiber and 3-4" normal concrete. So far only one crack in one corner thats not in a control joint and that was from abuse. Top is starting to scale up but I never sealed it and the salt has taken a toll over the years. Looking back I think his mix was too wet as well, but I didn't know anything about concrete at that time.

I need my driveway and 2 sidewalk portions ripped up and redone....well not need, but they are on the bucket list along with a slab for a garage. My driveway is just (2) 2' wide sections of concrete for the wheels with grass in the middle and each slab is pretty cracked up and sunken in. Same for 2 pcs of sidewalk where they sunk down and cracked. Over 40+ years later not bad. It's the old school stuff with the yellowish round rocks on the top. When they updated my gas lines they had to break and replace one. Looks really goofy with most of it being very old with stones on top with one section being brand new and bright white.

 

[AlienXtx]

My driveway is kelechi over the culvert then grass/dirt.......well mostly mud right now, the rest of the way

 

[Anathollo]

when I was sub shopping for my moms concrete driveway years ago I wanted a 4" fiber reinforced high psi concrete slab. Stole a spec (warranty) and details from a commercial job I was on where they had all the handicapped spots concrete (local codes here in some spots). I found out real quick - no one gives a crap up here about a small residential 3 car driveway. Every guy I talked to would not guarantee against cracks and the good ones pretty much guaranteed they would crack due to her soil conditions. I ended up going with the guy who was truthful and midpriced. He used mesh instead of fiber and 3-4" normal concrete. So far only one crack in one corner thats not in a control joint and that was from abuse. Top is starting to scale up but I never sealed it and the salt has taken a toll over the years. Looking back I think his mix was too wet as well, but I didn't know anything about concrete at that time.

I need my driveway and 2 sidewalk portions ripped up and redone....well not need, but they are on the bucket list along with a slab for a garage. My driveway is just (2) 2' wide sections of concrete for the wheels with grass in the middle and each slab is pretty cracked up and sunken in. Same for 2 pcs of sidewalk where they sunk down and cracked. Over 40+ years later not bad. It's the old school stuff with the yellowish round rocks on the top. When they updated my gas lines they had to break and replace one. Looks really goofy with most of it being very old with stones on top with one section being brand new and bright white.

You got that right! Most city inspectors really don't give a shit about residential walkways or driveways and I've had them rarely get out of the truck after pulling up to do an inspection.

 

[Oswego]

If you haven't gotten your seeds for this season - you better jump on it NOW.

Buddy just told me his local organic non gmo seed stock place is out. Said he's been buying from them for almost a decade. He checked a few more and also nada.

 

[Taco Loco]

If you haven't gotten your seeds for this season - you better jump on it NOW.

Buddy just told me his local organic non gmo seed stock place is out. Said he's been buying from them for almost a decade. He checked a few more and also nada.

nah, really? I’m waiting on seeds that should have been here Monday at the lastest... I hope not, but bet a postal employee stole it.

 

[Taco Loco]

If you haven't gotten your seeds for this season - you better jump on it NOW.

Buddy just told me his local organic non gmo seed stock place is out. Said he's been buying from them for almost a decade. He checked a few more and also nada.

I think I have what I need for Spring Planting, not so much for fall, but my dad probably has what I would do in the fall.

 

[Anathollo]

nah, really? I’m waiting on seeds that should have been here Monday at the lastest... I hope not, but bet a postal employee stole it.
View attachment 22444 View attachment 22445

A lot of my Amazon orders have been coming in at different times. Some come right away while others are delayed like yours.

 

[Oswego]

I think Ill grab some blueberry bushes this year. I planted 3 about a decade ago but had no idea what I was doing and you need a bunch to 'self' pollinate. I also like the taste of the wild ones much better. Short bushes are tart w/small berries and the 6' tall bushes have sweeter larger berries.




Ill be able to avoid the store. Plenty to be found in the forest right near the lake I like to kayak

 

[Taco Loco]

A lot of my Amazon orders have been coming in at different times. Some come right away while others are delayed like yours.

yeah I know, it gave me like 2 week shipping date from when I got ordered, most of my orders through Wally, HD, Lowe’s, 2 business days and it’s here no problemo

As much as I hate Amazon, I still use them, Jeff Bezos probably puts meth on their packaging or something.

@Oswego

Yep, Wally, HD all out of stock on the seeds I wanted.

 

[Oswego]

yeah I know, it gave me like 2 week shipping date from when I got ordered, most of my orders through Wally, HD, Lowe’s, 2 business days and it’s here no problemo

As much as I hate Amazon, I still use them, Jeff Bezos probably puts meth on their packaging or something.

@Oswego

Yep, Wally, HD all out of stock on the seeds I wanted.

That blows. Look up here or go north. It's not our season just yet. Small mom and pop shops in the cold states might have some.





I got lazy. Hand tilled fro an hr today and said screw this. Ive got way too much time into tilling.

Ordered just now - be here tomorrow between 7am-8pm...nice window

$35 flat fee from HD. Worth it just to not have to lug the 400# of dirt ~ Ill have the truck back right up to my beds

 

[Taco Loco]

That blows. Look up here or go north. It's not our season just yet. Small mom and pop shops in the cold states might have some.





I got lazy. Hand tilled fro an hr today and said screw this. Ive got way too much time into tilling.

Ordered just now - be here tomorrow between 7am-8pm...nice window

$35 flat fee from HD. Worth it just to not have to lug the 400# of dirt ~ Ill have the truck back right up to my beds
View attachment 22453

Oh damn, your getting serious with ordering tiller, that’s like paying for gym membership and not attending,

To be fair, I cleared my garden area with the tractor before I put electric fencing up. I also moved 14yds of mulch/compost and dump it into 3 piles in the garden, From the piles, I move it by loading up 5gallon bucket a time, to dump on my rows.