Do it yourself or not?

Aizer K'negdo in progress

Mon, Jul 27 2009, 5:31 pm

We have a stone wall in front of the house and of course with time, small gaps/spaces can be found around the stones. I looked it up on internet and I really feel that I can do it.
You basically have to put mortar in the gaps and voila!!

Am I CRAZY TO WANT TO DO THAT??? shock

Thank you to "drill" some sense into me! embarrassed

Twizzlers

Mon, Jul 27 2009, 5:59 pm

go for it, girl!

I'm in the process of doing that for my front steps! I bought the ready mixed cement though to make my life a bit easier. still, someone quoted us $300 to do it, and so far I used about $50 of supplies.

greenfire

Mon, Jul 27 2009, 6:22 pm

mortar cost only $5 (five dollars) ... easy enough to do ...

Aizer K'negdo in progress

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 10:17 am

Thank you !
I feel better knowing that I am not alone trying out things on my own!
My hubby is more lets hire a professionnal for everything and I am more like: hey how about doing it ourselves!!

Thank you twizzlers (good luck with your stairs!)
and greenfire! You really helped out a lot.

VIVA LA CEMENT!!!!

DefyGravity

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 10:23 am

Something like that is easy enough to do. Just make sure you take a steel brush and brush out the cracks before you fill them in.

greenfire

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 10:38 am

the trick is to keep everything wet so that as it dries it doesn't crack ... oh and buy a tool or two if you cannot borrow them from someone ...

Aizer K'negdo in progress

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 11:13 am

What tool are you talking about besides
Truelle ie like a mini pointy shovel with a right angle handle
pre mixed cement
bucket to mix the cement
chisel to remove excess mortar
hammer

am I missing anything?

happyone

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 11:58 am

Aizer K'negdo in progress, or carpenter in progress?

Go for it!

Twizzlers

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 12:01 pm

Aizer K'negdo in progress wrote:

sounds good to me! although if I'm not mistaken, things like this shouldnt be done until after the 9 days....hatzlacha!

greenfire

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 1:04 pm

there are different size trowels ... see what type you think would be most helpful in filling your type of gaps the smoothest ...

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall.....=1-64

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall.....=1-79

http://www.amazon.com/Do-Best-.....1-118

http://www.amazon.com/Michigan.....=1-13

http://www.amazon.com/Quikrete.....r=1-2

the bag of mortar you mix yourself is a lot cheaper than pre-mixed mortars ... unless the job is small and you need just a little ...

louche

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 3:44 pm

why not? electrical work I'd say steer clear of, but a decorative wall? whyever not?

Pickle Lady

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 3:57 pm

Yeah go for it. if you do a bad job, it will just chip much faster. But it shouldn't ruin the wall.

Aizer K'negdo in progress

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 8:30 pm

It is actually quite a big wall!!!
Like 15' long x 3' high for 5" then 7' high at the highest point that gradually lowers to the ground for 10" !
Still think it is doable? shock

greenfire

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 8:43 pm

louche wrote:

why not? electrical work I'd say steer clear of, but a decorative wall? whyever not?

if you make a mistake with electrical - it's free electric shock therapy Idea

greenfire

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 8:45 pm

Aizer K'negdo in progress wrote:

It is actually quite a big wall!!!
Like 15' long x 3' high for 5" then 7' high at the highest point that gradually lowers to the ground for 10" !
Still think it is doable? shock

no problemo - it'll just take a bit of time ... do not mix all the mortar at once and you will need a good amount ...

you said you read instructions - just follow them and you'll be fine ...

nech770

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 10:06 pm

we are doing all kinds of renos and were told during the 9 days we need to not have work done - put on hold til after

Aizer K'negdo in progress

Tue, Jul 28 2009, 11:57 pm

By us it is only painting and plastering that is strictly forbidden the rest is ok to do but should be pushed off until after Tisha B'Av.
Greenfire: no problemo - it'll just take a bit of time ... do not mix all the mortar at once and you will need a good amount ...
Thank you to remind me that!!!

Twizzlers

Wed, Jul 29 2009, 12:11 am

one more thing I would say, is to try a small spot and let it dry a while before you do the whole thing. you'll save yourself a big headache if you realize there was something different you should have done.

Aizer K'negdo in progress

Wed, Jul 29 2009, 12:13 am

What different, like you mean the wrong color or something? shock

Pickle Lady

Wed, Jul 29 2009, 12:46 am

louche wrote:

why not? electrical work I'd say steer clear of, but a decorative wall? whyever not?

Electrical work doesn't scare me. Its plumbing that I think is annoying.