Mike I am a 50 year old engineer…..most engineers can make calculations but very few have the willingness or the ability to do real hands on work. Many others try to make things seem much harder than they really are, as if they are ‘special’ and only they can do the ‘magic’….I have no patience for this. Your knowledge is worth more than many university degrees, and your gift is the ability to give people the confidence to do these projects on their own by taking all the magic out of it. I live in a 120 year old house and have been restoring everything, electrical, plumbing, all myself, because I LIKE doing it. Last is the foundation work in the basement, and now that I have found your videos, I cannot get down there fast enough to follow your ideas and methods. Thanks for taking the magic out of it. Steve
Hi Steve, I appreciate hearing that from a professional, it makes me feel like I’m on the right track, thanks for the kind words there are uplifting, God bless, Mike
I couldn’t agree more with what you wrote here. Being able to communicate like this, in my experience, only comes from people who throughly understand what they’re talking about so there’s no need for ego to take over. Mike, you’ve given me confidence to do a repair that’s been on my list for months! Thank- you so much for this video, I definitely subscribed!
hi Mike , i am a Mason , 55 years old and was basically born into the trade . Ive been doing this my whole life and agree with you about the old stone foundations being better than what we are using today . i do pretty much everything as old school as allowed by code . i enjoy your videos and just found them today so Kudos to you for making them . there are not a lot of real masons around anymore . people do not realize that guys like us do all phases of masonry work rather than specialize in one area. everyone needs to know that becoming a mason is like becoming a violinist you really gotta want to be one in order to be a good one . after almost 40 years i still love what i do . and yes it is a skilled profession
Hi Brandon, thanks you much, hearing what you say makes me feel better about making these videos. and hearing from the old pros I know I am on the right track,,,,, God bless, mike
I was showing my girlfriend this video and referred to Mike as Bob Ross of masonry, then I scrolled down and saw your comment, just wanted to let you know we both had a good laugh.
Thank you so much, my wife and I bought a house built in 1840 and have a stone foundation that i worry about constantly when it rains that it will flood. We have a sump pump but I've been worried the past year about how to stop the leaking and your videos have made me feel better about if i can do anything. Thank you
I am repairing the foundation on 177 yr old home. Love its character. I have learned so much by watching your videos. I feel confident about the restorations I have done and My friends think I am amzing for getting things done that I have never tried before. Thanks for the detailed info and explanation of details and reasoning behind every step. Keep it coming
Mike I wanted to thank you again! Because of your videos I've taken on repointing my 120 year fieldstone basement. I do a lot of the removing of the old mortar with my 9 and 5 year old children. It's really great for them to get some real work in their lives - they enjoy it and they are better for it! Thank you so much!
Mike thanks so much for these videos. I'm in a house that's 100 yrs old, has a rock foundation and cause of you sir, I've been able to patch and repair it over the last two years. It's been a fun, enjoyable and satisfying project for me.
I always look for Mike's videos when I need to do anything with my stone foundation. He is both knowledgable and easy to watch. I live in a 123-year-old home in the Inland Northwest. I have learned how to repair my basalt foundation from Mike, inside and out. Thanks Mike! I really appreciate your experience.
All I can say is I'm so glad I found your channel!!! Been working on old homes around Pittsburgh PA my whole life,your videos are straight to the point and extremely helpful tips !! Thank you for sharing this knowledge you saved me a ton of money !!!
I just found your videos and love them. Very old school, intellectual, and yet enjoyable all at the same time. Great work and long live true old school tradesmen and women. God bless.👍🏼✝️👍🏼
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience! This is exactly what I'm doing with my stone foundation, fixing patching from the outside and inside of the house as water is coming through some big holes in the foundation. Best videos and information I found, and I was looking for a while now. Thank you!
I live in a very old farmhouse. I have believed there isn’t much hope to repair the stone foundation myself. This video changed my mind. Going to give it a shot one wall at a time 🤗
Thank you Mike. My nephew bought a 100 year old bank foreclosure last year with a stone foundation. Now that I got my shot I am ready to head over there ( in May, Eaden Mills Vermont) and give him a hand with the electrical. I was dreading the field stone foundation work that was needed. Your video gave me much more confidence that it was not going to be a nightmare waste of time. I got the message. Stone foundations are good and reliable, just have lousy old mortar that can be picked out and replaced. I hope all is well with you and yours.
Talk to someone who understands old buildings! Look at research from the UK and the National Park Service. Traditional lime mortar is exactly what you should be using. Portland cement will lead to a whole lot of problems in old buildings.
God Bless You & Thank You Mike!! With your video's my boys & I were able to repair a bad spot in my basement! Love your video's and your ol'school knowledge & tidbits. I'd take ol'school knowledge any day over book smart knowledge. I am so Thankful I found you & Your video's! Before they watched the video's I kept telling them, you just slap it together and I think they had a hard time believing that! I had contacted several masons in our area about this spot and they either never called back or they never showed up. I wish you were closer (live in Cecil County Md.) as I am sure if I called you, you would have been here. But you made it easy and we did it! Well, we did the worst spot today - will be doing a few more next weekend. Plus, I love that you play the banjo too.
Hey Mike , It is trying to get cold in Southern Illinois . Just finished tuck pointing my stone foundation that is above ground 18 '' . Now I will attack the inner walls in the basement , 7' . At 67 have relearned craft that my Godfather tough me when a kid. Roofing was learned at the age of 8-10, hod carrying was always available !! That was how we grew up . Not rocket science , but mite as well be for my neighbors . Thanks again for your videos . And I'm glad our winters are moderate...... most years !
Thank you for your videos. We bought an 1885 home and I need to clean out the material in between the stones and mortar back up. This videos has given me confidence to do this.
I just worry about getting too carried away. If it ain't broke - don't fix it. Removing old mortar on an exterior stone wall. Nervous about removing too much to cause wall collapse. Working on a stone wall in Boston - miserable freeze thaw world. Just trying to hold the walls in place for a few more years. I so TOTALLY appreciate his approach and he build up my confidence. Thanks Mike.
i knew i would find a vid of yours that has the same cellar wall repair as mine needs , i'm in oshawa ontario canada and my house was built in 1875, This video is GOLD TO ME! Oh and please wear a dust mask Mike. Thank you so very much! Gerry V
Hi Mike you're a wealth of information, thank you so much for your knowledge and expertise. I was born and raised in Shamokin PA, but got outta there days after I graduated from high school and moved to Philly for school. Shamokin isn't to far from your stomping grounds Wilkes Barre. My Dad worked in the mines, and later strip mining, but our 3 story frame house in Shamokin had a stone foundation and we "Never had a drop of water in the cellar" and as a kid I remember helping my Dad go over the cellar walls with what he called white wash every ten years or so, but only remember LIME, not the other components. Twenty-five years ago I bought an old row house built in 1859 in Philly, it to has a stone foundation, and want to give it a good coating, an old timer down here told me that those days they used lime, clay and horse hair because they didn't have cement those days. MY QUESTION concerning Stone foundation 4 of 4 inside is, you state you use 2 buckets of sand to one bucket of Portland cement, then you say also use 3/4 bucket of Portland and 1/4 of S Mortar, but you never dump the latter in the wheel barrel. So is the 3/4 bucket of Portland and the 1/4 bucket of S mortar an alternative? Thank you, Ed Lynch
Hi Ed, yes it, I mostly use the portland on inside and the mixture with mortar on outside but every situation is a bit different , yep the old timers did use lime and then in the 50s switched to portland . good to hear from a PA guy, thanks mike
Thank you so much. My husband so confused about how to handle our stone basement walls. You made it interesting. easy to follow and great tips. He is all gung ho now to start the project. THANK YOU
Hi Mike, I love your videos. I like the comments on the old stone foundations better than today's. Mason's work is hard work for sure and I know your videos make it look so easy. I do appreciate you sharing your years of masonry expertise. Keep up the GOOD WORK!
thank you for your videos! your knowledge is helping me save the rubble/concrete walls on my mothers basement. My dad tried to stop the water and the erosion and gave up in the 70's. so far i have one dry wall without a fountain running out of it when it rains.
Hi Mike really enjoy your videos My house was built in 1895 and as you would know it is stone foundation and I had some walls that were crumbling a bit you gave me the confidence to repair the walls that needed it Thank you so much for you guidance I found it fun like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together
I watched this a while back and just re watched it again, thanks for sharing your knowledge and the history. Out here on the west coast everything is built with sticks and block.
My basement look exactly like that, thanks mke for showing how to fix it. I brush off the dust and then wet the stone and painted it with cement. I don't see any debris falling anymore.
Hello Mike, I came across your videos and it reminded me of my youth helping my father and grandfather. They were stone, block, and brick masons in Lebanon, PA. Thank you for your guidance and insight to what has become a lost art. I still remember the last stone wall we all built together with three generations of family on the same stone job. It was an old farmhouse retaining wall the fell over in 1992. My grandfather was 80yrs old at the time. How I miss preparing corner stones with him.
Mike, my contractor taught me how to do this and he used EXACTLY the same techniques you're using (although I like your additional step of creating the "paint" made of water and cement). I've done some of this work on my foundation and it's really satisfying.
my house was built in 1920. balloon framed. full basement, but not high enough to finish. concrete block, no footing under it, no gravel under it. The "floor" is about a half inch of concrete, and it looks like ray charles finished it with his feet. my dad's house was built in 38 on top of an old root cellar, 3 of the 4 foundation walls are sandstone with what I assume is lime mortar and lime whitewash. the outside was stuccoed at some point but on the inside, the stone and the mortar looks new. it's amazing what lasts if done right. this is a great video. you seem to answer my questions as they come into my head. south jersey by the way. i'm intrigued by lime and I have placed some orders with Lancaster lime works which is local to you and me
Hello, just found your video researching this technique and loved the information you provided! Really easy to understand and informative. I'm going to be renovating an old basement in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia that has a stacked stone foundation and I'll definitely be referencing your work here so thank you very much. Up until now I've done a fair bit of research and basically found nothing but contradictory information which is so frustrating as a new homeowner. Seems like nobody can agree on what's best, everyone swears by their method and products, etc so it's reassuring to hear an actual stone mason giving some straight facts. Seems like the biggest misnomer is to use lime based mortar on old homes because "it will ruin the wall" but it really sounds like that's hogwash and they only reason they used that was because it was what was available at the time! Makes perfect sense. You're also the first person I've seen mention the wire mesh. That was near impossible to research. Maybe it's a Pennsylvania thing haha. Thanks again though and looking forward to digging into the project!
Hi Brandon, My home was build in the 1880's with a stone foundation. It leaks water, the mortar looks like orange sand between all the rocks and a lot of it is damp. You sure help me make some better decision on how to repair the wall. I was just going to buy some cement and throw it in the holes (lol) now from your video I have a better idea of how to do in correctly. Thank you!
Hi Mike! Thank you soo much for your awesome teaching videos. I am not sure why they are not playing till the end? Unlike some which we can see your work from start to finish. Thank you so much
Hey Mike that was a good video and exactly what information I've been looking for. I have some masonry knowledge and strongly agree with your procedures , bonding technique and all. My name is Dean I'm in the construction field, built a few new houses over the years and renovated quite a few old ones. From the foundation on up. I bought an old 2 story house in Pennsylvania right near the Susquehanna River it's been through at least 2 very bad floods and it's still standing strong. I want to repair the old stone foundation as you do but I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to do with the whitewash someone sprayed
Hi Dean, I got a whole playlist " foundation repair" which goes through almost every technique I use when dealing with paint, etc, something should help, sometimes just a patch and quick paint over like sheetrock, thanks Mike
As an owner of an 1890s house with stone foundation, I can definitely say a crack or leak concerns me 100% less than a contemporary concrete foundation. Great video
I am glad this video came up again, I watched it earlier I was trying to find it recently. In Minnesota, I keep running into requests from people who live in Hobby Farms to fix a stone wall in their backyard. Basically the way it works is when you buy a hobby Farm ERI bunch of boulders that the landscaper digs up and then rather than haul them away or leave them in a pile makes what's known as a boulder wall around the fire pit and it looks great. But unfortunately burrowing Critters love to make nests in between the boulders and after three or four generations the border wall literally becomes a critter Condominium Association and at night while running the fire pit, it's my children but their fingers into the gap between the boulders they might get bit by a rodent. And so a customer recently asked if I could mortar all of the boulders making it safe for small children and eliminating piles of dirt that the burrowing animals keep kicking out.
Thanks for making this video my guys like you are slipping away fading into the background unfortunately my family worked in the same business you’re out and it’s kind of nice to see how or be reminded of how they done things and when they done and they were there to stay so I hope a lot of people watch this and learn something from it great job
Hi Mike, I stumbled on your videos today and have to admit, your way and style of doing masonry work makes the younger guys look like beginners. You explain everything easily and to the point with your reasons why you do things the way you do. I have not seen one video of guys "painting" the walls before covering them, and rely on additives that just add costs to the project. I do have a question for you, if you'd be so kind - I live in Mexico (I'm Canadian) and we were planting some fruit trees, only to find that there was a slab of cement underneath the dirt. So, I proceeded to break the cement in order to get the trees to root properly, and all of a sudden a big hole opened up in the ground! Turns out, there was a room from an old house on the property underneath. So, I dug it out only to find that there were still really well preserved brick walls (about 3-4 feet high/deep) and we decided to use that as the foundation for a pool. My question is, do the same techniques apply in my case? I was going to put forms and pour cement, but because of the incline of the pool base and the fact that there are already solid brick walls, it seems like overkill to pour cement over the brick walls. Could I just paint the walls like you do, then apply cement over them, levelling them out as I go? Or would you recommend a different strategy? Thank you for your videos showcasing your experience! Cheers!
Hi Jason, pools are a whole different animal, pipes ,filters, chemicals etc, most pool contractors use liners, fiberglass or concrete and rip out and install new, I would talk with them first, thanks Mike
Wow this is a great video. I'm from Pennsylvania too and have the stone foundation in my home that is in sad need of repair. I was worried about paying through the nose to get someone to fix this, but now I'm thinking I might actually be able to do some of this myself. I don't need it pretty, I just need it repaired. Thanks for the inspiration!
Well I did one wall and it came out great! I'll be doing the rest of the basement tomorrow but this wall had some leaks and I wanted no rain in the forecast. Last thing I'll do is is the drylock Masonry waterproofer paint. Might be over kill but hey why not. Successful weekend indeed.
Mike thanks for the videos , I watch them all the time and appreciate the stories about the "old timers" that you add in, and just talk of the business in general. I'm in NJ and working in a different trade but I'm looking to Learn masonry work so appreciate your channel
thanks Jeff, I am glad you said that, because next video I was going to start talking a little more about the business, (permits, samples, inspectors, etc, and see what happens, thanks mike
Well I know you probably don't remember but I had to do my foundation for the insurance company this year, thanks to you mostly for making it simple and this other guy kirk giordano on youtube here I was able to do it and it was one hell of a lot of work for one guy but I it looks like a success and I got that window well window in too, took me a long time but I don't think I could have done it without you guys posting these videos so thanks again, and I hope I never have to see another bag of cement or sand lol, .... Merry Christmas friend..
Hi Mike, I absolutely love your videos. A common sense approach to mansonry, combined with a spirit of excellence. I wanted to run something by you. I live in Southern Maryland, and I have am old post and beam house. Every few feet there is a concrete pier in the ground with a large beam on top of it. Over the years, the gaps on between the piers were filled in with cinder blocks, but the blocks have no footers, and the mortar is breaking apart. I want to fix it properly, but I only have about a foot of crawlspace clearance. Mo basement. Would an old stone wall work, and then plaster over it. Thanks again for the great advice. No big deal!
Hi Dean , it’s a hard call, usually you have to have ventilation under there so you do not get mold or rot, but I have jacked houses up and put solid stone under them , I would scope out your area and see what others did, I did a video called how i jack up a small house, I hope it helps, thanks, mike
Thank you for your videos Mike. I am repointing my old stone foundation on the inside and i appreciate the pointers... Its good to hear too that you think the old stone foundations may even be better than the new ones... Thanks- Pete
Welp I've watched this video 20 times nothing left to dive in. Thank you very much for all your teaching. Let's be honest your saving me money, money I don't have to pay a contractor and if I did I would call a local contractor. But with your teaching my family and I will have a better looking celler/basement and we thank you very very much. If you have a patreon or merchandise I can buy to help compensate you for your time that would be great. 🍺🍺
Thanks Mike for a great video....I have the same type of walls in my cellar....man, I have a lot of work to do, but now I have your expert advice to look to.
Just bought a 1947 house here in Pennsylvania with a stone foundation just like this. Half of the basement is repointed. Getting ready to get working on the other half soon.
Lots of knowledge here. What do you think about the approach of I guess its called pointing when they do it so that you can see each stone on the inside of the basement wall. As opposed to the approach where you put a layer over the top of it and in the cracks thanks
Just add enough water to the Portland to make it a soup. And after you wet the stone paint the soup on to the stone with a paintbrush and then put the mortar mix into place
Hi Mike, Love your videos, I've done a lot work on my old home due to them...so thank you very much. I want to know if you have a video on installing concrete filled lally columns and footer pad installation. I live in the NJ area and code wants to 3ft down 12 inch thick by 24 inch x 24inch footer. If you have a video, please do post it.
Hi Chely, I know you got to go by what they want in your area, I do have a video on how do footers, but everywhere is different, I hope it helps thanks, mike
Hello Mike you are awesome ! And I appreciate your skills , you make it easy. I know I can this . I have a 1912 home that needs some tender loving care. Thank you. Linda
I put lots of rocks in the holes and then pour in cement just like u doing it. Thanks again for showing. How do u fix those blocks that bleed brown stains, can u show a video on that? I wet them and paint them with cement and bonding agent.
Great videos. Thanks for sharing. Many in the historic preservation and restoration world will say you should absolutely not repoint and old stone foundation with a modern cement product since the walls were made to breath and naturally evaporate moisture, not trap it. Curious on your thoughts there.
Hi Luke, I been doing over 50 years and my Dad 70, I never had a problem and all the local masons I know use basically the same techniques and products, I did a video called " Lime mortar or Portland " what should I use?, Mike haduck thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck thanks I'll take a look! Just beginning my learning journey here. Will need to repoint my failing lime mortar in the basement before too long.
Thanks Mike! Your videos inspired me to do work on my stone foundation and it still looks great over a year later! Thanks for the info! You had a guy on your channel that worked on rubber roofs and patches which was helpful as well, any other guys such as carpenters or plumbers you have interviewed? Thanks again all the best!
I'd sure like to know how to add block to the top of field stone. Wondering if they lifted this house then added or replaced some failing stone with block. I've got field stone in my basement and there's some shifting that's happened over 100 years and I cant seem to find a Mason in my area willing to come take a look and give me an estimate. Sure wish i was close enough to hire you, Mike!
Hi Wooda, the good thing about those old stone foundations are you just dig it out and put it back, I never seen one I couldn't fix, I am sure you will find someone, thanks mike
Mike thanks for all info. My question: I have an old wine stone foundation cellar in Germany. Humidity is 75%. I don’t have water but joints are humid. Shall I go with the normal process with Portland, sand and s mortar or I need to add more lime and use N type in order to leave space to the stone foundation to breath.
Hello, Thanks for the videos. I just rented a space that I am fixing up for my shop. I took down a panel that is covering a stone wall. The nails they used a long time ago pulled out some chunks of cement that I need to repair. Should I use quikcrete? I think I get the method just not sure on product. Also in the bathroom they covered a similar wall with drywall and it needs repaired any suggestion on a good product or method to cover the stone so moisture does not come through? Thanks Monica
Hi Monica, I show what I use in each video, I am sure something will work, I also got series on masonry tips for beginners and what cement should I use?, I hope they help mike
Mike I am a 50 year old engineer…..most engineers can make calculations but very few have the willingness or the ability to do real hands on work. Many others try to make things seem much harder than they really are, as if they are ‘special’ and only they can do the ‘magic’….I have no patience for this. Your knowledge is worth more than many university degrees, and your gift is the ability to give people the confidence to do these projects on their own by taking all the magic out of it. I live in a 120 year old house and have been restoring everything, electrical, plumbing, all myself, because I LIKE doing it. Last is the foundation work in the basement, and now that I have found your videos, I cannot get down there fast enough to follow your ideas and methods. Thanks for taking the magic out of it. Steve
Hi Steve, I appreciate hearing that from a professional, it makes me feel like I’m on the right track, thanks for the kind words there are uplifting, God bless, Mike
Mike, you are my inspiration
No big deal. You make it sound so simple. Excellent videos.
I couldn’t agree more with what you wrote here. Being able to communicate like this, in my experience, only comes from people who throughly understand what they’re talking about so there’s no need for ego to take over. Mike, you’ve given me confidence to do a repair that’s been on my list for months! Thank- you so much for this video, I definitely subscribed!
This guy's videos are the best. So much knowledge yet so humble. So happy he spends the time to teach others these skills so that they are not lost.
Thanks Ashley, Mike
hi Mike , i am a Mason , 55 years old and was basically born into the trade . Ive been doing this my whole life and agree with you about the old stone foundations being better than what we are using today . i do pretty much everything as old school as allowed by code . i enjoy your videos and just found them today so Kudos to you for making them . there are not a lot of real masons around anymore . people do not realize that guys like us do all phases of masonry work rather than specialize in one area. everyone needs to know that becoming a mason is like becoming a violinist you really gotta want to be one in order to be a good one . after almost 40 years i still love what i do . and yes it is a skilled profession
PAS i live in upstate NY in the finger lakes region
Hi Brandon, thanks you much, hearing what you say makes me feel better about making these videos. and hearing from the old pros I know I am on the right track,,,,, God bless, mike
thanks Brandon been there, I appreciate it. mike
Brandon Bishop 8
Ditto! Nice write! It’s about doing it right but with a sense of responsibility that it will last. Also it is no big deal as Mike always says
Thank you 'Bob Ross' of the masonry world. A true craftsman. Im working on the purchase of a home built in 1850 and yes it has a stone foundation.
I was showing my girlfriend this video and referred to Mike as Bob Ross of masonry, then I scrolled down and saw your comment, just wanted to let you know we both had a good laugh.
Ha! I just had the same exact thought. When he started painting on the bonding agent I had flashes of Bob painting some "happy little bushes."
i realize I am pretty randomly asking but do anybody know of a good site to stream newly released series online ?
Thank you so much, my wife and I bought a house built in 1840 and have a stone foundation that i worry about constantly when it rains that it will flood. We have a sump pump but I've been worried the past year about how to stop the leaking and your videos have made me feel better about if i can do anything. Thank you
I am sure you will do well, make sure the ground is pitched away from the house and raingutters are working and piped away, I wish you well, Mike
I am repairing the foundation on 177 yr old home. Love its character. I have learned so much by watching your videos. I feel confident about the restorations I have done and My friends think I am amzing for getting things done that I have never tried before. Thanks for the detailed info and explanation of details and reasoning behind every step. Keep it coming
Thanks Ann, Mike
Excellent as usual. That basement looks exactly like mine. Now I know how to take care of it. Thanks Mike!
thanks stan, I am sure it will work out, mike
Mike I wanted to thank you again! Because of your videos I've taken on repointing my 120 year fieldstone basement. I do a lot of the removing of the old mortar with my 9 and 5 year old children. It's really great for them to get some real work in their lives - they enjoy it and they are better for it! Thank you so much!
Thanks Winston, Happy new year, Mike
Make sure your kiddos wear a mask, and enjoy!
Mike thanks so much for these videos. I'm in a house that's 100 yrs old, has a rock foundation and cause of you sir, I've been able to patch and repair it over the last two years. It's been a fun, enjoyable and satisfying project for me.
thanks Brad, thats great, It make me feel like It is satisfying with these comments, I appreciate it. mike
I always look for Mike's videos when I need to do anything with my stone foundation. He is both knowledgable and easy to watch. I live in a 123-year-old home in the Inland Northwest. I have learned how to repair my basalt foundation from Mike, inside and out. Thanks Mike! I really appreciate your experience.
Thanks, Mike
All I can say is I'm so glad I found your channel!!! Been working on old homes around Pittsburgh PA my whole life,your videos are straight to the point and extremely helpful tips !! Thank you for sharing this knowledge you saved me a ton of money !!!
Thanks Paully,, Mike
I just found your videos and love them. Very old school, intellectual, and yet enjoyable all at the same time. Great work and long live true old school tradesmen and women. God bless.👍🏼✝️👍🏼
True Helper God bless also, I appreciate the comment, Mike
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience! This is exactly what I'm doing with my stone foundation, fixing patching from the outside and inside of the house as water is coming through some big holes in the foundation. Best videos and information I found, and I was looking for a while now. Thank you!
Thanks patrikk,, Mike
I live in a very old farmhouse. I have believed there isn’t much hope to repair the stone foundation myself. This video changed my mind. Going to give it a shot one wall at a time 🤗
Thanks Karen ,check out my videos on re pointing stone work, thanks mike
Thank you Mike. My nephew bought a 100 year old bank foreclosure last year with a stone foundation. Now that I got my shot I am ready to head over there ( in May, Eaden Mills Vermont) and give him a hand with the electrical. I was dreading the field stone foundation work that was needed. Your video gave me much more confidence that it was not going to be a nightmare waste of time. I got the message. Stone foundations are good and reliable, just have lousy old mortar that can be picked out and replaced. I hope all is well with you and yours.
Thanks Burt, very true, I wish you luck on the project, mike
Talk to someone who understands old buildings! Look at research from the UK and the National Park Service. Traditional lime mortar is exactly what you should be using. Portland cement will lead to a whole lot of problems in old buildings.
God Bless You & Thank You Mike!! With your video's my boys & I were able to repair a bad spot in my basement! Love your video's and your ol'school knowledge & tidbits. I'd take ol'school knowledge any day over book smart knowledge. I am so Thankful I found you & Your video's! Before they watched the video's I kept telling them, you just slap it together and I think they had a hard time believing that! I had contacted several masons in our area about this spot and they either never called back or they never showed up. I wish you were closer (live in Cecil County Md.) as I am sure if I called you, you would have been here. But you made it easy and we did it! Well, we did the worst spot today - will be doing a few more next weekend. Plus, I love that you play the banjo too.
Hey Mike ,
It is trying to get cold in Southern Illinois . Just finished tuck pointing my stone foundation that is above ground 18 '' . Now I will attack the inner walls in the basement , 7' . At 67 have relearned craft that my Godfather tough me when a kid. Roofing was learned at the age of 8-10, hod carrying was always available !! That was how we grew up . Not rocket science , but mite as well be for my neighbors . Thanks again for your videos . And I'm glad our winters are moderate...... most years !
Thanks bob, I appreciate hearing that, mike
Thank you for your videos. We bought an 1885 home and I need to clean out the material in between the stones and mortar back up. This videos has given me confidence to do this.
Thanks Roxie, mike
Somehow this is my third time watching this one! The repair ones are my favorite
Thanks Jim, mike
I just worry about getting too carried away. If it ain't broke - don't fix it. Removing old mortar on an exterior stone wall. Nervous about removing too much to cause wall collapse. Working on a stone wall in Boston - miserable freeze thaw world. Just trying to hold the walls in place for a few more years. I so TOTALLY appreciate his approach and he build up my confidence. Thanks Mike.
Thanks Archie, Mike
i knew i would find a vid of yours that has the same cellar wall repair as mine needs ,
i'm in oshawa ontario canada and my house was built in 1875,
This video is GOLD TO ME!
Oh and please wear a dust mask Mike.
Thank you so very much!
Gerry V
Thanks again, Gerry, mike
Hi Mike you're a wealth of information, thank you so much for your knowledge and expertise. I was born and raised in Shamokin PA, but got outta there days after I graduated from high school and moved to Philly for school. Shamokin isn't to far from your stomping grounds Wilkes Barre. My Dad worked in the mines, and later strip mining, but our 3 story frame house in Shamokin had a stone foundation and we "Never had a drop of water in the cellar" and as a kid I remember helping my Dad go over the cellar walls with what he called white wash every ten years or so, but only remember LIME, not the other components. Twenty-five years ago I bought an old row house built in 1859 in Philly, it to has a stone foundation, and want to give it a good coating, an old timer down here told me that those days they used lime, clay and horse hair because they didn't have cement those days. MY QUESTION concerning Stone foundation 4 of 4 inside is, you state you use 2 buckets of sand to one bucket of Portland cement, then you say also use 3/4 bucket of Portland and 1/4 of S Mortar, but you never dump the latter in the wheel barrel. So is the 3/4 bucket of Portland and the 1/4 bucket of S mortar an alternative? Thank you, Ed Lynch
Hi Ed, yes it, I mostly use the portland on inside and the mixture with mortar on outside but every situation is a bit different , yep the old timers did use lime and then in the 50s switched to portland . good to hear from a PA guy, thanks mike
Thank you so much. My husband so confused about how to handle our stone basement walls. You made it interesting. easy to follow and great tips. He is all gung ho now to start the project. THANK YOU
Thanks Doreen, Mike
Hi Mike, I love your videos. I like the comments on the old stone foundations better than today's. Mason's work is hard work for sure and I know your videos make it look so easy. I do appreciate you sharing your years of masonry expertise. Keep up the GOOD WORK!
Thanks Phil, I appreciate it, mike
thank you for your videos! your knowledge is helping me save the rubble/concrete walls on my mothers basement. My dad tried to stop the water and the erosion and gave up in the 70's. so far i have one dry wall without a fountain running out of it when it rains.
Thanks lincoln, check your rain gutters and pitch away the land from the house, I am glad if the videos help, thanks mike
Hi Mike really enjoy your videos My house was built in 1895 and as you would know it is stone foundation and I had some walls that were crumbling a bit you gave me the confidence to repair the walls that needed it Thank you so much for you guidance I found it fun like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together
Thanks James, I appreciate it, mike
Best informative video i have come across yet...thanks for ur knowledge and wisdom..
Thanks Flamester, Mike
Doing this since the 1960s' never had a call back - Shows your talent, well done sir!
Thanks, mike
This was really great to watch. Now I am confident about finishing my basement. Thank you!
Thanks VJ, Mike
I watched this a while back and just re watched it again, thanks for sharing your knowledge and the history. Out here on the west coast everything is built with sticks and block.
Thanks paul, mike
My basement look exactly like that, thanks mke for showing how to fix it. I brush off the dust and then wet the stone and painted it with cement. I don't see any debris falling anymore.
Thanks Nancy, Mike
Well, thanks to you and your videos, I’m going to attempt to resolve my basement woes! Thanks for the encouragement and information!!! ❤️
Hi Nik, uyou can do it, practice a little till you get the feel of it, thanks mike
We shall see!! I’ll be recording it once I get to that project!!! I’ll let you know when I get there!!!
Hello Mike, I came across your videos and it reminded me of my youth helping my father and grandfather. They were stone, block, and brick masons in Lebanon, PA. Thank you for your guidance and insight to what has become a lost art. I still remember the last stone wall we all built together with three generations of family on the same stone job. It was an old farmhouse retaining wall the fell over in 1992. My grandfather was 80yrs old at the time. How I miss preparing corner stones with him.
Hi Dennis, yes it's almost a lost art, thanks Mike
I live in Boston, Mass and my basement wall is Roxbury Puddingstone. This video series is very pertinent to repairs I need to be making. Thank You
thanks Stephanie, I hope it all works out, I appreciate it. mike
Mike, my contractor taught me how to do this and he used EXACTLY the same techniques you're using (although I like your additional step of creating the "paint" made of water and cement). I've done some of this work on my foundation and it's really satisfying.
Thank Edith, Mike
Great Video! Loved how you showed those foundations from the 70's.
thanks Tony, I appreciate it. mike
Glad to find this video, as we are just starting to get a leak in our old foundation. Thank you Mike!
Thanks Cynthia, I am glad if the videos help, thanks mike
my house was built in 1920. balloon framed. full basement, but not high enough to finish. concrete block, no footing under it, no gravel under it. The "floor" is about a half inch of concrete, and it looks like ray charles finished it with his feet. my dad's house was built in 38 on top of an old root cellar, 3 of the 4 foundation walls are sandstone with what I assume is lime mortar and lime whitewash. the outside was stuccoed at some point but on the inside, the stone and the mortar looks new. it's amazing what lasts if done right. this is a great video. you seem to answer my questions as they come into my head. south jersey by the way. i'm intrigued by lime and I have placed some orders with Lancaster lime works which is local to you and me
Hi peep, I got a video out called " lime , mortar or portland " what should .I use, that should help. Thanks mike
Hello, just found your video researching this technique and loved the information you provided! Really easy to understand and informative. I'm going to be renovating an old basement in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia that has a stacked stone foundation and I'll definitely be referencing your work here so thank you very much.
Up until now I've done a fair bit of research and basically found nothing but contradictory information which is so frustrating as a new homeowner. Seems like nobody can agree on what's best, everyone swears by their method and products, etc so it's reassuring to hear an actual stone mason giving some straight facts. Seems like the biggest misnomer is to use lime based mortar on old homes because "it will ruin the wall" but it really sounds like that's hogwash and they only reason they used that was because it was what was available at the time! Makes perfect sense.
You're also the first person I've seen mention the wire mesh. That was near impossible to research. Maybe it's a Pennsylvania thing haha.
Thanks again though and looking forward to digging into the project!
Thanks, I am sure you will do fine, Mike
Again Mike you take the fear out of trying! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mac, Mike
Hi Brandon, My home was build in the 1880's with a stone foundation. It leaks water, the mortar looks like orange sand between all the rocks and a lot of it is damp. You sure help me make some better decision on how to repair the wall. I was just going to buy some cement and throw it in the holes (lol) now from your video I have a better idea of how to do in correctly. Thank you!
Thanks John, I appreciate it, Mike
Hi Mike! Thank you soo much for your awesome teaching videos. I am not sure why they are not playing till the end? Unlike some which we can see your work from start to finish. Thank you so much
Hi Bou, I don't know, it's the first time I heard that, thanks Mike
Hey Mike that was a good video and exactly what information I've been looking for. I have some masonry knowledge and strongly agree with your procedures , bonding technique and all. My name is Dean I'm in the construction field, built a few new houses over the years and renovated quite a few old ones. From the foundation on up. I bought an old 2 story house in Pennsylvania right near the Susquehanna River it's been through at least 2 very bad floods and it's still standing strong. I want to repair the old stone foundation as you do but I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to do with the whitewash someone sprayed
Hi Dean, I got a whole playlist " foundation repair" which goes through almost every technique I use when dealing with paint, etc, something should help, sometimes just a patch and quick paint over like sheetrock, thanks Mike
As an owner of an 1890s house with stone foundation, I can definitely say a crack or leak concerns me 100% less than a contemporary concrete foundation. Great video
Thanks Thomas, Mike
Hey Mike that's just what I did. Now it's sturdy and strong. Then I paint some dry lock over the blocks.
Thanks again, Mike
I am glad this video came up again, I watched it earlier I was trying to find it recently. In Minnesota, I keep running into requests from people who live in Hobby Farms to fix a stone wall in their backyard. Basically the way it works is when you buy a hobby Farm ERI bunch of boulders that the landscaper digs up and then rather than haul them away or leave them in a pile makes what's known as a boulder wall around the fire pit and it looks great. But unfortunately burrowing Critters love to make nests in between the boulders and after three or four generations the border wall literally becomes a critter Condominium Association and at night while running the fire pit, it's my children but their fingers into the gap between the boulders they might get bit by a rodent. And so a customer recently asked if I could mortar all of the boulders making it safe for small children and eliminating piles of dirt that the burrowing animals keep kicking out.
Thanks, mike
Great video, I’ve watched 5-6 yours is clear and looks great thank you 👍🇺🇸
Thanks Richard, Mike
Thank you, just moved into a century, your video helps.
Thanks Joyce, Mike
Thanks for sharing your craft!
Thank you so much for the fantastic information. Really appreciate you taking the time to put this out on the web.
Thanks Alex, Mike
Another great video Mike !
Thanks again, Mike
Thanks for making this video my guys like you are slipping away fading into the background unfortunately my family worked in the same business you’re out and it’s kind of nice to see how or be reminded of how they done things and when they done and they were there to stay so I hope a lot of people watch this and learn something from it great job
Thanks dusty, I appreciate it, mike
Best series ive seen! Thank u!
Thanks Misty, Mike
Most definitely a art form of work . Very nice
Thanks Fred, Mike
Hi Mike, I stumbled on your videos today and have to admit, your way and style of doing masonry work makes the younger guys look like beginners. You explain everything easily and to the point with your reasons why you do things the way you do. I have not seen one video of guys "painting" the walls before covering them, and rely on additives that just add costs to the project.
I do have a question for you, if you'd be so kind - I live in Mexico (I'm Canadian) and we were planting some fruit trees, only to find that there was a slab of cement underneath the dirt. So, I proceeded to break the cement in order to get the trees to root properly, and all of a sudden a big hole opened up in the ground! Turns out, there was a room from an old house on the property underneath. So, I dug it out only to find that there were still really well preserved brick walls (about 3-4 feet high/deep) and we decided to use that as the foundation for a pool. My question is, do the same techniques apply in my case? I was going to put forms and pour cement, but because of the incline of the pool base and the fact that there are already solid brick walls, it seems like overkill to pour cement over the brick walls. Could I just paint the walls like you do, then apply cement over them, levelling them out as I go? Or would you recommend a different strategy? Thank you for your videos showcasing your experience! Cheers!
Hi Jason, pools are a whole different animal, pipes ,filters, chemicals etc, most pool contractors use liners, fiberglass or concrete and rip out and install new, I would talk with them first, thanks Mike
Wow this is a great video. I'm from Pennsylvania too and have the stone foundation in my home that is in sad need of repair. I was worried about paying through the nose to get someone to fix this, but now I'm thinking I might actually be able to do some of this myself. I don't need it pretty, I just need it repaired. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks 39, I’m sure it will work out for you, thanks Mike
Well I did one wall and it came out great! I'll be doing the rest of the basement tomorrow but this wall had some leaks and I wanted no rain in the forecast. Last thing I'll do is is the drylock Masonry waterproofer paint. Might be over kill but hey why not. Successful weekend indeed.
Thanks ,that's a good thing, most painters wait 30 days for the cement to fully cure, thanks mike
@@MikeHaduck ok will do sir. Thank you.
great video! thanks for being so thorough.
Thanks J R, Mike
Mike thanks for the videos , I watch them all the time and appreciate the stories about the "old timers" that you add in, and just talk of the business in general. I'm in NJ and working in a different trade but I'm looking to Learn masonry work so appreciate your channel
thanks Jeff, I am glad you said that, because next video I was going to start talking a little more about the business, (permits, samples, inspectors, etc, and see what happens, thanks mike
Great videos Mike. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Will, I appreciate it. mike
Great tutorial and thanks for sharing this! 💯
Thanks Julia, Mike
Well I know you probably don't remember but I had to do my foundation for the insurance company this year, thanks to you mostly for making it simple and this other guy kirk giordano on youtube here I was able to do it and it was one hell of a lot of work for one guy but I it looks like a success and I got that window well window in too, took me a long time but I don't think I could have done it without you guys posting these videos so thanks again, and I hope I never have to see another bag of cement or sand lol, .... Merry Christmas friend..
Thank Mijemu, I am also a big fan of kirk, I am glad it worked out for you, and Merry Christmas right back at you, God bless, mike
Thank you this is very helpful! It seems like a much more manageable project now!
Thanks Fatima, Mike
Your doing a very good job of explaining every thing you do ,some very good tips there mike ,thanks for passing on some of your knowledge
thanks james, I bet we think a lot of the same, I appreciate it. mike
Hi Mike,
I absolutely love your videos. A common sense approach to mansonry, combined with a spirit of excellence. I wanted to run something by you. I live in Southern Maryland, and I have am old post and beam house. Every few feet there is a concrete pier in the ground with a large beam on top of it. Over the years, the gaps on between the piers were filled in with cinder blocks, but the blocks have no footers, and the mortar is breaking apart. I want to fix it properly, but I only have about a foot of crawlspace clearance. Mo basement. Would an old stone wall work, and then plaster over it. Thanks again for the great advice. No big deal!
Hi Dean , it’s a hard call, usually you have to have ventilation under there so you do not get mold or rot, but I have jacked houses up and put solid stone under them , I would scope out your area and see what others did, I did a video called how i jack up a small house, I hope it helps, thanks, mike
Nice job my friend👍👍👍
Thanks Alberto, Mike
Thank you for your videos Mike. I am repointing my old stone foundation on the inside and i appreciate the pointers...
Its good to hear too that you think the old stone foundations may even be better than the new ones...
Thanks- Pete
Hi Pete, Thanks, they been around for hundreds of years, and my experience makes me believe that, thanks, mike
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH MIKE, I ARWSOMELLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR SHARING. THANK YOU, YOU R TURELLY GOD'S ANGEL
Thanks Regina, I appreciate the kind words, Mike
What a wealth of information! Thank you Mike!
thanks Steve, I appreciate it. mike
Welp I've watched this video 20 times nothing left to dive in. Thank you very much for all your teaching. Let's be honest your saving me money, money I don't have to pay a contractor and if I did I would call a local contractor. But with your teaching my family and I will have a better looking celler/basement and we thank you very very much. If you have a patreon or merchandise I can buy to help compensate you for your time that would be great. 🍺🍺
Thanks, That's what it's about , keeping things simple and saving people money, if you but a tee shirt I appreciate it, mike
@@MikeHaduck you got it👍🍺🍺
Ordered Size L white "ain't no big deal" lol, love it.
Thanks, I appreciate it, Mike
Got an old 1860-1900 bank barn with a buckling wall that I wish you were still up here to take a look at.
Thanks amazing, I don't think my back could take it anymore but thanks for asking , Mike
Well done Mike....another enlightening video
thanks Sparky, I appreciate it. mike
Just like a Dentist 🦷 ! I love that !
Thanks Veronica, mike
Thanks Mike for a great video....I have the same type of walls in my cellar....man, I have a lot of work to do, but now I have your expert advice to look to.
Hi Tom, thats great, I hope it works out for you, thanks mike
Just bought a 1947 house here in Pennsylvania with a stone foundation just like this. Half of the basement is repointed. Getting ready to get working on the other half soon.
Thanks ,I am sure you will do fine, Mike
good work Mike. great format.
Thanks James, I appreciate it. mike
Great informative video...Thanks Mike...
thanks Dave, mike
Lots of knowledge here. What do you think about the approach of I guess its called pointing when they do it so that you can see each stone on the inside of the basement wall. As opposed to the approach where you put a layer over the top of it and in the cracks thanks
Hi, you can do it if it's a stone to be looked at. Similar to my videos on repointin stone work, thanks mike
Once Again - Interesting and to-the -point.
Thanks Pete, mike
reminded me of the cellar in our old house. It was great too!! stayed the same temperature in the cellar pretty much all year round.
Hi Sue, your right about that, thanks mike
I learn something new with every video! Mike knows what works, old school rocks?
Thanks James, mike
Thanks for another great video.Regards from Spain
thanks Paul, merry Christmas to Spain, mike
Old school bonding agent. Mixing portland cement into paint. ..What is the paint? @ 6:43
Just add enough water to the Portland to make it a soup. And after you wet the stone paint the soup on to the stone with a paintbrush and then put the mortar mix into place
Great videos Mike keep up the excellent work!
thanks joe, I appreciate it. mike
Hi Mike,
Love your videos, I've done a lot work on my old home due to them...so thank you very much. I want to know if you have a video on installing concrete filled lally columns and footer pad installation. I live in the NJ area and code wants to 3ft down 12 inch
thick by 24 inch x 24inch footer. If you have a video, please do post it.
Hi Chely, I know you got to go by what they want in your area, I do have a video on how do footers, but everywhere is different, I hope it helps thanks, mike
Good stuff and a big help.
That cellar (before) looks like mine does right now. Hopefully, I'll get pretty close to the 'after'.
Hi Mike, I am sure you will get it. thanks mike
Hello Mike you are awesome ! And I appreciate your skills , you make it easy. I know I can this . I have a 1912 home that needs some tender loving care. Thank you. Linda
thanks Linda, I appreciate it. mike
I put lots of rocks in the holes and then pour in cement just like u doing it. Thanks again for showing. How do u fix those blocks that bleed brown stains, can u show a video on that? I wet them and paint them with cement and bonding agent.
Thanks again, Mike
Haven't been on your channel for a bit. Always good content, thank you.
thanks cory, I appreciate it. mike
Amazing lesson on stone foundations.
thanks albert, I appreciate it. mike
Great videos. Thanks for sharing. Many in the historic preservation and restoration world will say you should absolutely not repoint and old stone foundation with a modern cement product since the walls were made to breath and naturally evaporate moisture, not trap it. Curious on your thoughts there.
Hi Luke, I been doing over 50 years and my Dad 70, I never had a problem and all the local masons I know use basically the same techniques and products, I did a video called " Lime mortar or Portland " what should I use?, Mike haduck thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck thanks I'll take a look! Just beginning my learning journey here. Will need to repoint my failing lime mortar in the basement before too long.
This is really helpful. I have straight limestone, do you recommend the same mixture?
Hi, every area every mason has their own mixes, I try to show what I use in each of my videos and why, thanks Mike
Mike you are the man
Thanks charles, mike
thank you for sharing all of this useful information! it is much appreciated!
Thanks John, I appreciate it, mike
Thank you. Some great tips for those of us trying to DYI it!
Thanks Duane, Mike
Thanks Mike! Your videos inspired me to do work on my stone foundation and it still looks great over a year later! Thanks for the info! You had a guy on your channel that worked on rubber roofs and patches which was helpful as well, any other guys such as carpenters or plumbers you have interviewed? Thanks again all the best!
hi infi, yea that was my dads roof, I am going to start thinking more that way, I appreciate it. thanks, mike
I'd sure like to know how to add block to the top of field stone. Wondering if they lifted this house then added or replaced some failing stone with block. I've got field stone in my basement and there's some shifting that's happened over 100 years and I cant seem to find a Mason in my area willing to come take a look and give me an estimate. Sure wish i was close enough to hire you, Mike!
Hi Wooda, the good thing about those old stone foundations are you just dig it out and put it back, I never seen one I couldn't fix, I am sure you will find someone, thanks mike
Mike thanks for all info.
My question: I have an old wine stone foundation cellar in Germany. Humidity is 75%. I don’t have water but joints are humid. Shall I go with the normal process with Portland, sand and s mortar or I need to add more lime and use N type in order to leave space to the stone foundation to breath.
Hi, I never had a problem with my mix in any type of cellar, you could always check with the locals if you want, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduckThanks a lot
thanks for posting your videos they are awsome
thanks Sean, I try, I appreciate it. mike
Hello, Thanks for the videos. I just rented a space that I am fixing up for my shop. I took down a panel that is covering a stone wall. The nails they used a long time ago pulled out some chunks of cement that I need to repair. Should I use quikcrete? I think I get the method just not sure on product. Also in the bathroom they covered a similar wall with drywall and it needs repaired any suggestion on a good product or method to cover the stone so moisture does not come through? Thanks Monica
Hi Monica, I show what I use in each video, I am sure something will work, I also got series on masonry tips for beginners and what cement should I use?, I hope they help mike
Ok great thanks I will check them out. I did not know if you had one you prefer for certain jobs. "Ain't no big Deal" Love the mugs!