Mike, I've watched a ton of your videos, many more than once. Thank you so much for 1. All the invaluable information you so generously share. 2. The way your convey your knowledge. You are unpretentious, non-intimidating and warm-hearted, like a cherished grandfather. You serve as a wonderful example, both as a steward of the trade and of how to approach life in general. You are a priceless national treasure.
You are so awesome. Completely stifled my fears of fixing my old stone basement. Saved me 1000s of dollars of unnecessary contractors trying to sell all sorts of encapsulating products. Everything to cover the problem but not actually repair it. Thank. You .
Hello mike, your videos have helped me with building a foundation for an addition to fixing my basement. You have been a big help to me and my family, thank you.
Basements are naturally cool which saves a lot of cash during the summer months when it's incredibly hot outside. The knowledge about the land being pitched the wrong way and the position of the gutters is valuable to a newbie like myself. Thanks.
Intriguing. This guy is a master of his trade. I started doing epoxy garage floor coatings and Specialty concrete repair several years ago and consistently run into Old homes that don't have garage floors but have deteriorated concrete foundations that are on the Historical Society registry and no one knows how to fix it. One of the jobs in bidding on next week got a bid from some Basement foundation repair company they heard about on the radio who quoted them $50,000 basically to put panels which I would describe as office cubicles to veneer the problem which won't work because it'll still have that stinky musty smell. I'm going to use Mike's Masonry to repair the entire problem and then they can later sheetrock finish the basement.
Grew up in a dry basement in Illinois . Thanks for the memory . PS - Have done more work with cement since retirering than ..... a long time . Inspirational !! Thanks .
So glad i found this man!. Just bought an old Victorian house.. old school foundation thats needs minor repairs. I feel much better watching these videos. Thank you so much.
Thank you Mike. I really get alot out of each one of your videos. I look forward to seeing each new video you present. Thank you for what you are doing. I know it's time consuming, but it's a big deal to me to learn from you. Thanks man, I really appreciate you.
It's like an interesting game when you do your works . And it's a profit to me to watch them. You turn the traditional work of masonry to a kind of game, it is great .
First thing I thought of when you said ' old school whitewash ' was Tom Sawyer on the fence. I'm no mason but I did a whole basement for a friend awhile ago just like you did that patch. I'm glad to see it was done right. As for Drylok, I've used that stuff a few times and I agree, it's good stuff. I never used the latex so I can't speak to that but with the oil the fumes can be pretty nasty so plenty of fresh air is a must.Thanks for the video Mike.
Mike Thanks for all this info! I love watching your videos they have helped me so much . My house is old and my pockets have lent in them. Your videos saved me so much. Thanks again!
You're the Grandad I never had. Thanks for the stories behind your work. I'm from Pittsburgh so I take all your advice seriously. "What works in Alaska will not work in Florida."
Yes I also find myself in several basements to correct various situations. Something I pretty much refuse to do is cover up natural stone foundations as I find it sacrilegious to cover up such natural beauty and I tuckpoint the rock. This whole concept of masonry paint made of Portland is pure genius. I was never taught that as a young mason, I'm 61 now. Then there is always the discussion of water getting into the basement. As Mike says, the conversation usually goes pretty much the same. The customer will point out the offending areas and the first thing out of my mouth is that I want to go outside and look around. The customers reaction is usually pretty standard and that's astonishment at me wanting to go outside and look around. They often say that the problem is here, not outdoors. Then as Mike says, the problem is usually painfully obvious to the customer once I explain gravity outdoors. Their faces are priceless.
That crumbling wall looks just like what I see in my 1930s foundation basement (in Montreal), which I'll be tackling at some point in the near future. I'll be sure to refer back to this video. Thanks Mike!
The basement looks great! Thanks for the tip on painting the walls with white portland. My basement walls has that on them. I didn't know what it was on there and some has fallen off, so I need to recoat it. Thanks again!
Just recently stumbled on your channel. You're so right about terrain pitch and gutters/downspouts. I do whole house renovations, and have hauled in as much as 15 yards of dirt to correct the pitch around a foundation on a problem house. I've fixed many basement water problems just by getting all the gutters, downspouts and turnouts all ship-shape, and the terrain sloping away from the building. Great channel. Glad I found it.
Fantastic set of videos. They gave me the confidence to tackle my basement walls which look exactly like the ones you tackled and am very pleased with the result.
I love how you say it's no big deal. I've been stressing out about my stone foundation and water leaking in. Your videos are helping me to stress a bit less and feel a little more like it's doable.
@@MikeHaduck Thanks for responding Mike! If you have time to answer a question, I would greatly appreciate it. When you say remove the loose mortar, how far do you go with it? For example: If there is loose mortar in between the stones, and they're loose at the top of the foundation with loose stones, do you have to scrape out every bit of the loose mortar and replace it, or can some of it stay? I'm just trying to understand the technique and make sure we do it right, but also not end up unnecessarily taking apart an entire portion of the foundation of the house. lol. There's significant water damage where water was getting into the basement in the area that we're working on.
@@MikeHaduck I think I've watched all of them. lol. All good stuff of course! I just wasn't quite clear on that particular aspect of it. Is there a specific video in that series that explains this part in more depth? Thanks for all of the great videos Mike!
I'm quite relieved to have stumbled across these videos because I've been doing a lot of this type work on my house and have done it the same way and have never seen these videos. It reinforces my thought process. It makes sense.
Thanks again for a great video. Right now I'm helping redo a foundation in a house that's over 100 plus years. Amazing the size of boulders they used back then. Taking it all out was a task in itself. Well wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. And a better new year. 👍✌😀
Hi Mike, greetings from Wales. Love the videos, love your attitude to work and life. Always really helpful and informative.... thank you for taking the time and trouble. God Bless.
Mike I am very grateful for you sharing all these videos you’ve saved me at least a thousand dollars already and more to come as I am armed with good information to fix some bricks!
Mike, thank you for your videos, just found your site and subscribed. I live in South Texas, west of San Antonio, and about 40 miles from the Texas -Mexico border. My great grandfather's house is a 2 story sandstone /brownstone house that is 106 years old. Same story similar to what you have mentioned, I also as a young boy got to meet one of the stone haulers who was in his 80's who told us of a " typical" day.. His wife would make his breakfast, he would hitch his team and wagon, go to the quarry, get a load of stone which was cut at the quarry, deliver it to the Big House as it is known, and get back in time for dinner at dark... the trip was two miles round trip. The stone treads for the front steps are solid pieces, 7 inches thick, by 13 inches deep by 12 feet long, all hand cut sawn sandstone, about 9 treads total, just for one set of stairs. Took 4 years to build the house. Only problem we have now is that where repairs were done 70 years ago, the repairman used straight portland cement and the instead of the mortar joint breaking, the stone is breaking due to shifts from drought and soil changes. Thanks again for a common sense channel that shows why and how to do masonry repairs. Oh, the house also has a basement, with a coal fired furnace, with stacked sandstone, they would bring in coal from the north from the railroad that was used to fire the train, and would use a wagon to deliver the coal from the depot to the house. In the winter, which aren't bad down here, one man's job was to keep the furnace going....
Hi Forrest, the old days are gone for sure, I remember the tail end of it, and the stories the guys from wpa would tell, different mind set, thanks for the story, I appreciate it, Mike
thanks mike, my basement is just like that. It have some loose sand and holes, so watching your video I got some concrete with some bonding agent, wet down the area, but first I sweep off some of the loose debris. Then I put on some concrete. After putting on the concrete and filling in the holes, I painted it down with some extreme dry lock.
Super Mason Man , Thank you for your video , I love it , I'm doing the same jobs now in NE PA I using hydraulic and water proof cement , Most common problem is grade and gutter issue's , after watching you , I now have more confidence .
I enjoyed seeing a 'repair video' done in an older style.....and it was common sense also. I would not have thought of using the weak mix for the floor as you did....but again, common sense. More learning for me again! I just hope I never need to use that knowledge. If I do, I'll send them to your UA-cam site. Thanks for sharing. ....13
This is what I was looking for. Your own "white washing" which I think is wonderful. There are thousands of walls which look terrible and a simple whitewashing could improve it's appearance. For me it improves the "dignity" of space, and if you want to rent or sell the property, customers feel more attracted!
Neat job. With my house, the original owners had their summer kitchen down in the basement where they did their canning and what not. I still use the 1940s Magic Chef range that is hooked up down there. It works well in the summer when cooking corned beef, canning, soup, etc.
thanks bg, was just talking last night to an old timer who said they all lived in the basement, still a good idea in a lot of cases, so nothing wrong with that for sure, thanks mike
You have given me even more things to do in the spring! Thank you so much for such great videos! I had no idea that's what white wash meant! When you first started removing the loose stuff on the wall I wouldn't have been able to stop! Lol
Mike, I hope I can learn to do one good stonework Job that you would be proud of! I'm going to try! You must have a good back! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and Many blessing in the coming year!
Mike you're wise fella, I had to kind of laugh, I'll brush down to where it's solid as it just kept coming. But you held her back together with cement, optimism, hard work.
Thank you for posting these videos of old school techniques. I always find them informative and helpful. Where I live there are a lot of glacial erratics aka "field stones" . They tend to be a lot rounder than the stones I see in the videos from the east or southwest. But, since no one seems to post how to fix a "Michigan basement", as they call the old stone foundations here, I try to use similar techniques to what these videos show and adapt it to what I have. The oldest part of my house is about 95 years old and the old cement between the stones just crumbles to powder when you touch it. Someone previously did some "repairs" using high strength mortar and caused some cracking in the stone. Do you have a video about what can be done to strengthen the wall when that has happened?
Hi Carolyn, I have a whole playlist on foundation repair, and stone foundation repair, I show what I use and all my techniques, I am sure you will find something there, thanks mike
When you repair a crumbling foundation like that, how thick can you make your lift before you risk the repair work slumping? Have you ever used Quikwall to repair a foundation? I get a lot out of your videos and appreciate how you take the time to explain the steps.
Hi Joseph, I liken it to doing body work on a car, only what you can do a little at a time, if it starts slumping stop and let it set up till you can go farther, I hope it helps, thanks, mike
HI Mike, Thank you for your advice on this channel. You are so knowledgeable and practical! :) Question - I read that we are not supposed to paint stone foundation with waterproof paint as it prevents stones from breathing. I saw you mentioned Drylok, so should we or should we not waterproof stone foundation inside the basement?
Hi, user, I never in my whole career waterproofed the inside of a basement. I have a video out called " basement water problem solutions" Mike haduck, that might be a start, thanks Mike
Mike, thanks for sharing your expertise. Could you make a video on repairing concrete window sills? I just bought an Ozark Giraffe rock house in Little Rock and have to DIY stuff. Thanks for your video on repointing.
Seems like if you have a crumbly old wall, it would be wise to patch up and drylok exterior wall, let the wall dry out from the inside, and then patch and whitewash the interior. That way, the wall can breathe somewhat and moisture isn't locked inside. Let me know if i've got it wrong.
Mike, Thanks for your videos. It’s so hard to get people to do this kind of work anymore so most times I do it myself. My basement floor has deteriorated and crumbled in places so I’m going to repair and resurface. What mix would you use if you planned on painting the floor instead of carpeting?
Having the right grade to keep water from a foundation is especially important with stone foundations. Where I live, older houses were built with limestone foundations. They have sand between the stone and a little putty just on the outer edges. Rain water can cause this sand to wash out from between the limestone and cause major foundation problems.
Hi Mike, I’m a big fan of your channel. You are so smart and your experience is invaluable to home owners like me. I’m wondering, how would you go about insulating a fieldstone foundation? I am in the process of fixing my foundation which I noticed the inside beyond the first layer is all collapsed to the ground. I’m not even sure what more to do besides reach in and try to restack the stones. It’s cold in my basement so I’m thinking maybe I should insulate it but I can’t find any information I can rely on so I decided to ask a pro.
Hi K,,, I have a video called how I jackup a small porch or building, where i replaced some stones, other than that, usually a crawl space you need some ventilation so your rafters don't rot. There's a lot of things to be considered when insulating a basement, thanks mike
Mike, I watch your videos a lot. Excellent information you bring to the table. My question is can you white wash over a latex paint? Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Daniel, I cannot say for certain, I would do a test and see what it looks like in a couple weeks or longer and see what happenskarma sometimes I’m surprised with cement will stick to , I appreciate it Mike
Mike I have question on a basement floor since you are from old school of knowledge. It is old and done very poorly, very uneven. It is a basement for the storage of an oil tank, hot water heater and boiler. I have water that runs under the floor to the sump pump. The problem is in one area the water comes up through small holes. This area is about an inch below the rest of the floor. Water is not good for the boiler and such as they are on cement blocks, rust. I painted most of the floor 14 years ago with Dry Lock, It did not work. I prepped this area, cleaned the popped paint by chipping and grinding and wire brushing as well as the old paint with a grinder and wire brush. The paint is pretty solid as the floor is really rough. I wanted to put down Cement all ( Rapid Set )and then apply Rapid Set Waterproofing Mortar over that, as it would stop the water, however, it recommends not over paint. Have you had any success in this area of floor problems? If so, could use a little help or direction. In hind site I would have used the rapid set 14 years ago and floated the whole floor. Much appreciated, thanks if you can.
Hi Michael, in a bad case we would just rip up the whole floor , dig up or down lay the next next slab on gravel, then underneath to the pump, then how is your land pitched, and do you have rain gutters. Lots of variables in those cases but always a solution, I hope it helps, mike
Hi Mike, I'm curious why you brushed the water on originally and didn't use your handy sprayer that I usually see you use. I see that you used the sprayer before adding the mortar, but the first pass was done with a brush.
Mike Haduck Masonry Thanks Mike! Your videos are great by the way. I’ve got a 100 year old house and my old foundation has been crumbling away here and there in certain spots. Well, after watching a lot of your vids, I’ve gotten Portland cement and S mortar and have been doing repairs here and there and happy with the results. Thanks again!
Mike what product do you recommend for smoothing out basement walls that's a stone foundation. I had a handyman tell me to use masonry cement mixed with lime. Any suggestions would really help.
Hi Juleen, Lots of guys grew up leaning things a certain way and if it works it works, that is why in my videos I say this is how "I" do it, so as not to infringe on that, mixing in lime is an old school thing because that is all they had in the old days when they built them, some of the old timers thing I am wrong, I think you got to do a little experimenting and research to see what really works in your situation,,, I hope it helps thanks mike
Hi Mike, love the videos. Would whitewashing over a pre -existing, good condition drylocked cellar stone/cinderblock foundation wall hold up as long as drylock, which claims around 10 years? Im in Queens NY and no water entering. The drylock is firmly bonded about 75% of the wall, 25% flaking off. I will scrape the loose portions, mortar, then whitewash the whole wall. I don't feel like spending big money on more drylock and I still have half a big bag of portland left. Thoughts? Im gonna tackle whitewashing my patio next :) Thank you in advance
Hi ermina, I can't say for sure but my next video is has a cellar fix again, usually not a big deal, I think dry lock is a great product thought, thanks mike
Mike, I've watched a ton of your videos, many more than once. Thank you so much for 1. All the invaluable information you so generously share. 2. The way your convey your knowledge. You are unpretentious, non-intimidating and warm-hearted, like a cherished grandfather.
You serve as a wonderful example, both as a steward of the trade and of how to approach life in general.
You are a priceless national treasure.
Thanks gary, they are kind words, I am just passing on what others showed me, mike
Some of the best videos on the internet.
You are so awesome. Completely stifled my fears of fixing my old stone basement. Saved me 1000s of dollars of unnecessary contractors trying to sell all sorts of encapsulating products. Everything to cover the problem but not actually repair it. Thank. You .
Thanks crazy boyys,,, I appreciate hearing that, thanks Mike
Don't mess with Mike's throwig arm, decades of slinging mortar. Thank you for your wisdom and invaluable advice.
Thanks John, Mike
Hello mike, your videos have helped me with building a foundation for an addition to fixing my basement. You have been a big help to me and my family, thank you.
thanks Mr. Krasker, I appreciate it.. mike
That is a great trick with the brick. Thanks Mike for the videos.
Thanks Lucas, Mike
Basements are naturally cool which saves a lot of cash during the summer months when it's incredibly hot outside. The knowledge about the land being pitched the wrong way and the position of the gutters is valuable to a newbie like myself. Thanks.
Ty, Mike
Mike's school of hard knocks!!! Finest at work! Pay attention people!!
Thanks Welders, mike
Intriguing. This guy is a master of his trade. I started doing epoxy garage floor coatings and Specialty concrete repair several years ago and consistently run into Old homes that don't have garage floors but have deteriorated concrete foundations that are on the Historical Society registry and no one knows how to fix it. One of the jobs in bidding on next week got a bid from some Basement foundation repair company they heard about on the radio who quoted them $50,000 basically to put panels which I would describe as office cubicles to veneer the problem which won't work because it'll still have that stinky musty smell. I'm going to use Mike's Masonry to repair the entire problem and then they can later sheetrock finish the basement.
Thanks mike
Grew up in a dry basement in Illinois . Thanks for the memory . PS - Have done more work with cement since retirering than ..... a long time . Inspirational !! Thanks .
Thanks Bob, mike
So glad i found this man!. Just bought an old Victorian house.. old school foundation thats needs minor repairs. I feel much better watching these videos. Thank you so much.
Thanks Bear, mike
Thanks again Mike. You are very knowledgeable. Your videos help me a lot.
Thanks Mega. Mike
I think many would have said you need a new foundation, nice job patching it up.
Thanks Eric, mike
thank's for the video's mike, great tip's & information, love the old school way's, stay vertical.👍👍
Thanks Thomas, Mike
Always informative.....love the history lessons on old homes and the reasons why people did what they did. You are a true craftsman.
thanks Mike, I appreciate it. mike
Thanks Mike,learn something new every time I watch you ,Take care and be safe.
Thanks tony, Mike
Thank you Mike. I really get alot out of each one of your videos. I look forward to seeing each new video you present. Thank you for what you are doing. I know it's time consuming, but it's a big deal to me to learn from you. Thanks man, I really appreciate you.
thanks po, these kind of comments keep me going on, I appreciate it. mike
It's like an interesting game when you do your works . And it's a profit to me to watch them. You turn the traditional work of masonry to a kind of game, it is great .
Thanks Lu, I appreciate it, Mike
First thing I thought of when you said ' old school whitewash ' was Tom Sawyer on the fence. I'm no mason but I did a whole basement for a friend awhile ago just like you did that patch. I'm glad to see it was done right. As for Drylok, I've used that stuff a few times and I agree, it's good stuff. I never used the latex so I can't speak to that but with the oil the fumes can be pretty nasty so plenty of fresh air is a must.Thanks for the video Mike.
Thanks Bird, It’s good to hear that I appreciate it Mike
Thanks Mike for doing these videos. It is really educational to watch a pro like you. Pay it forward.
thanks George I appreciate that, mike
Excellent work, Mike! Smooth, clean and no wasting money on New School phoney products that are over priced and of little incremental value!
Thanks Tapp, I appreciate hearing that, I agree, thanks mike
Mike Thanks for all this info! I love watching your videos they have helped me so much . My house is old and my pockets have lent in them. Your videos saved me so much. Thanks again!
Thanks Joe, mike
You're the Grandad I never had. Thanks for the stories behind your work. I'm from Pittsburgh so I take all your advice seriously. "What works in Alaska will not work in Florida."
Thanks Gregory, Mike
40,000 people care about you and your videos. Have a Merry Christmas and God bless you Mike.
thanks BEER, it keeps me going, I appreciate it. mike
Yes I also find myself in several basements to correct various situations.
Something I pretty much refuse to do is cover up natural stone foundations as I find it sacrilegious to cover up such natural beauty and I tuckpoint the rock.
This whole concept of masonry paint made of Portland is pure genius. I was never taught that as a young mason, I'm 61 now.
Then there is always the discussion of water getting into the basement. As Mike says, the conversation usually goes pretty much the same. The customer will point out the offending areas and the first thing out of my mouth is that I want to go outside and look around. The customers reaction is usually pretty standard and that's astonishment at me wanting to go outside and look around.
They often say that the problem is here, not outdoors. Then as Mike says, the problem is usually painfully obvious to the customer once I explain gravity outdoors. Their faces are priceless.
Thanks again Patrick, I agree with you, Mike
That crumbling wall looks just like what I see in my 1930s foundation basement (in Montreal), which I'll be tackling at some point in the near future. I'll be sure to refer back to this video. Thanks Mike!
Thanks jpvalois,,, Mike
Thanks Mike I’m learning from your videos.Really very informative 😊😊
Thanks,,, Mike
The basement looks great! Thanks for the tip on painting the walls with white portland. My basement walls has that on them. I didn't know what it was on there and some has fallen off, so I need to recoat it. Thanks again!
Hi Julia, A lot of the old timers painted those walls with lime, thanks Mike
Just recently stumbled on your channel. You're so right about terrain pitch and gutters/downspouts. I do whole house renovations, and have hauled in as much as 15 yards of dirt to correct the pitch around a foundation on a problem house. I've fixed many basement water problems just by getting all the gutters, downspouts and turnouts all ship-shape, and the terrain sloping away from the building.
Great channel. Glad I found it.
Thanks Guy, I appreciate it, mike
Fantastic set of videos. They gave me the confidence to tackle my basement walls which look exactly like the ones you tackled and am very pleased with the result.
Thanks Judi, I appreciate it, mike
I love how you say it's no big deal. I've been stressing out about my stone foundation and water leaking in. Your videos are helping me to stress a bit less and feel a little more like it's doable.
Thanks Angela, you can, take your time do a little experimenting, and you'll get it, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck Thanks for responding Mike! If you have time to answer a question, I would greatly appreciate it. When you say remove the loose mortar, how far do you go with it? For example: If there is loose mortar in between the stones, and they're loose at the top of the foundation with loose stones, do you have to scrape out every bit of the loose mortar and replace it, or can some of it stay? I'm just trying to understand the technique and make sure we do it right, but also not end up unnecessarily taking apart an entire portion of the foundation of the house. lol. There's significant water damage where water was getting into the basement in the area that we're working on.
Hi Andela, watch my videos on foundation repair and stone foundation repair, I am sure I explain everything throughout the series, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck I think I've watched all of them. lol. All good stuff of course! I just wasn't quite clear on that particular aspect of it. Is there a specific video in that series that explains this part in more depth? Thanks for all of the great videos Mike!
I Love this Guy. "Don't make no big deal out of it" 🤣😂
Thanks Mike
Haha PERFECT!! I Found your channel a while ago to help my brother fix his foundation. Well that problem was fixed but I'm still watching.
Thanks, Mike
I'm quite relieved to have stumbled across these videos because I've been doing a lot of this type work on my house and have done it the same way and have never seen these videos. It reinforces my thought process. It makes sense.
Thanks R B, mike
Great job Mike thanks for the honesty. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks TGC, mike
Mike, you're awesome. Your videos are informative and helpful.
thanks Mike, I hope I am on the right track, thanks mike
Thanks again for a great video. Right now I'm helping redo a foundation in a house that's over 100 plus years. Amazing the size of boulders they used back then. Taking it all out was a task in itself. Well wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. And a better new year. 👍✌😀
thanks Steve, I appreciate it. Same happy holiday seasons right back at you, thanks mike
Hi Mike, greetings from Wales. Love the videos, love your attitude to work and life. Always really helpful and informative.... thank you for taking the time and trouble. God Bless.
thanks cowbridge, I got to come see the castles over there,sometime, I appreciate it. mike
The white wash looks great, thanks for doing this example.
Thanks Jim, mike
Mike I am very grateful for you sharing all these videos you’ve saved me at least a thousand dollars already and more to come as I am armed with good information to fix some bricks!
Thanks, I have another fix brick video comming up next week, Mike
Thank you for all the knowledge. And for making it simple to understand.
Thanks Ed, mike
Huge help! I just bought a house with a cellar and Im learning about it! thanks!
Thanks, Mike
Mike, thank you for your videos, just found your site and subscribed. I live in South Texas, west of San Antonio, and about 40 miles from the Texas -Mexico border. My great grandfather's house is a 2 story sandstone /brownstone house that is 106 years old. Same story similar to what you have mentioned, I also as a young boy got to meet one of the stone haulers who was in his 80's who told us of a " typical" day.. His wife would make his breakfast, he would hitch his team and wagon, go to the quarry, get a load of stone which was cut at the quarry, deliver it to the Big House as it is known, and get back in time for dinner at dark... the trip was two miles round trip. The stone treads for the front steps are solid pieces, 7 inches thick, by 13 inches deep by 12 feet long, all hand cut sawn sandstone, about 9 treads total, just for one set of stairs. Took 4 years to build the house. Only problem we have now is that where repairs were done 70 years ago, the repairman used straight portland cement and the instead of the mortar joint breaking, the stone is breaking due to shifts from drought and soil changes. Thanks again for a common sense channel that shows why and how to do masonry repairs. Oh, the house also has a basement, with a coal fired furnace, with stacked sandstone, they would bring in coal from the north from the railroad that was used to fire the train, and would use a wagon to deliver the coal from the depot to the house. In the winter, which aren't bad down here, one man's job was to keep the furnace going....
Hi Forrest, the old days are gone for sure, I remember the tail end of it, and the stories the guys from wpa would tell, different mind set, thanks for the story, I appreciate it, Mike
Thank you for all of the knowledge you have shared with us. I love learning about your techniques but even more the history behind it.
Thanks Sean, Mike
thanks mike, my basement is just like that. It have some loose sand and holes, so watching your video I got some concrete with some bonding agent, wet down the area, but first I sweep off some of the loose debris. Then I put on some concrete. After putting on the concrete and filling in the holes, I painted it down with some extreme dry lock.
Hi Nancy, that's good, keep it up, ain't no big deal, thanks Mike
Super Mason Man , Thank you for your video , I love it , I'm doing the same jobs now in NE PA I using hydraulic and water proof cement , Most common problem is grade and gutter issue's , after watching you , I now have more confidence .
Thanks Joe, Mike
Thank you, Mike! I am learning so much and loving it
Thanks Mary, Mike
As always..a wealth of information....thanks again mike...enjoy your video's..john in Edinburgh Scotland
thanks John, Great hearing from Scotland, mike
I enjoyed seeing a 'repair video' done in an older style.....and it was common sense also. I would not have thought of using the weak mix for the floor as you did....but again, common sense.
More learning for me again! I just hope I never need to use that knowledge. If I do, I'll send them to your UA-cam site. Thanks for sharing.
....13
thanks 13. I appreciate it. Merry Christmas, mike
"Prefect"
Hahaha
Great videos dude
Really like the way you explain all the different old school ways.
Keep up the great work!
thanks skyjockey, I appreciate it. mike
You are a master artist....Merry christmas to you
thanks luis, Merry christmas to you also, mike
This is what I was looking for. Your own "white washing" which I think is wonderful. There are thousands of walls which look terrible and a simple whitewashing could improve it's appearance. For me it improves the "dignity" of space, and if you want to rent or sell the property, customers feel more attracted!
Thanks Pedro, simple, cheap and very true, I appreciate it, mike
Sir, I love your videos and your work. Nice makeup done in this one but that was what the owner wanted
Thanks Luka, mike
Neat job. With my house, the original owners had their summer kitchen down in the basement where they did their canning and what not. I still use the 1940s Magic Chef range that is hooked up down there. It works well in the summer when cooking corned beef, canning, soup, etc.
thanks bg, was just talking last night to an old timer who said they all lived in the basement, still a good idea in a lot of cases, so nothing wrong with that for sure, thanks mike
Another great series. Thanks Mike!
Thanks Peter, mike
reminds me of the basement in our old house. You're right.. we spent a lot of time down there in the summer.. nice and cool :-)
thanks Sue, I appreciate it. mike
Hi Mike ur videos r very informative.i love ur no nonsense vocab.( No big deal). Alot of great tips.(old school).
Thanks Jason appreciate it, Mike
You have given me even more things to do in the spring! Thank you so much for such great videos! I had no idea that's what white wash meant! When you first started removing the loose stuff on the wall I wouldn't have been able to stop! Lol
Hi jac, I will make a mason out of you yet. lol, keep it up, mike
Mike, I hope I can learn to do one good stonework Job that you would be proud of! I'm going to try! You must have a good back! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and Many blessing in the coming year!
thanks Jac, my back is shot, but Merry christmas and many blessings to you also, thanks mike
Thanks Mike, Once again you don't have to go crazy, just do what works, keep it up old timer and Merry Christmas to you and yours...
thanks E C, Merry Christmas to you and yours also, mike
Damn Mike that wall is straight up Old old school! Looks like it's just stone and earth and not concrete. 😝😝😝
Mike you're wise fella, I had to kind of laugh, I'll brush down to where it's solid as it just kept coming. But you held her back together with cement, optimism, hard work.
Thanks Dale, mike
"We're going to get down to where it's solid". As he busts through to the other side. 😄
Hi 15, sometimes that is very true, you got to do what you got to do, thanks Mike
Make a big deal about it, just make it good n wet. Is what she said to Mike 🤣
Great videos! I knew you were from northeast pa when you said trow it!
Very good information about the land pitching.
Thanks Gabriel, I appreciate it Mike
Thank you again Mike. Yes, VERY HELPFUL!
thanks Mike, I appreciate it. mike
Love the videos Mike!
Thanks William, Mike
"Perfect"
I actually laughed out loud at that.
Thanks jake, I thought it be funny myself, lol, mike
You’re the man brotha, thanks for the fantastic information!
Thanks, Mike
Thanks Mike love your videos, you gave me the confidence to build a retaining wall.
thanks Gary, I am going to put up a new video on retaining wall, mostly people do not need them, only a last resort, but I appreciate it. mike
09:43 __ The thunderous sound of a moving storage cabinet, then . . . . "Perfect!" :o))
Hi GSMS, it is my tradition to throw in stuff like that lol , I appreciate it. mike
That was Awesome!! I Love it!!! 😂😂😂😂
Thank you, Mike. Your videos are very instructional and Super helpful. =)
Thanks Justin, Mike
Hi Mike. Thanks to you I fixed my front porch and I had extra cement left over and now I make concrete turtles and they are selling like hot cakes
Thank you for posting these videos of old school techniques. I always find them informative and helpful. Where I live there are a lot of glacial erratics aka "field stones" . They tend to be a lot rounder than the stones I see in the videos from the east or southwest. But, since no one seems to post how to fix a "Michigan basement", as they call the old stone foundations here, I try to use similar techniques to what these videos show and adapt it to what I have. The oldest part of my house is about 95 years old and the old cement between the stones just crumbles to powder when you touch it. Someone previously did some "repairs" using high strength mortar and caused some cracking in the stone. Do you have a video about what can be done to strengthen the wall when that has happened?
Hi Carolyn, I have a whole playlist on foundation repair, and stone foundation repair, I show what I use and all my techniques, I am sure you will find something there, thanks mike
i swear mike is the bob ross of masonry
Thanks Thomas, I consider that a compliment, Mike
Love your program. Information is very interesting.
Thanks Julie, I appreciate it, mike
When you repair a crumbling foundation like that, how thick can you make your lift before you risk the repair work slumping? Have you ever used Quikwall to repair a foundation? I get a lot out of your videos and appreciate how you take the time to explain the steps.
Hi Joseph, I liken it to doing body work on a car, only what you can do a little at a time, if it starts slumping stop and let it set up till you can go farther, I hope it helps, thanks, mike
Mike, I sure wish you worked in Kansas! I got a project for you 😊
Hi, I appreciate you asking, thanks mike
HI Mike, Thank you for your advice on this channel. You are so knowledgeable and practical! :) Question - I read that we are not supposed to paint stone foundation with waterproof paint as it prevents stones from breathing. I saw you mentioned Drylok, so should we or should we not waterproof stone foundation inside the basement?
Hi, user, I never in my whole career waterproofed the inside of a basement. I have a video out called " basement water problem solutions" Mike haduck, that might be a start, thanks Mike
Mike, thanks for sharing your expertise. Could you make a video on repairing concrete window sills? I just bought an Ozark Giraffe rock house in Little Rock and have to DIY stuff. Thanks for your video on repointing.
Hi Christine, I have one to do this Sumer I think, thanks, mike
Drylok is a great product!! I used 5 gallons in my basement and it’s dry as a bone!
Thanks Brad, I am also a fan of dry lock, thanks for the comment, Mike
Seems like if you have a crumbly old wall, it would be wise to patch up and drylok exterior wall, let the wall dry out from the inside, and then patch and whitewash the interior. That way, the wall can breathe somewhat and moisture isn't locked inside. Let me know if i've got it wrong.
Stephen Lucas seems logical
Another Great Video... Thank you SIR...
Thank you John, I appreciate it, Mike
love your videos, happy holidays Mike
hi szymon, the mix is week on the floor so when it ledges or cracks it is not strong enough to rip the carpet, it that makes sense, thanks mike
great vid. good tips, pro
Thanks Gordon, Mike
Mike,
Thanks for your videos. It’s so hard to get people to do this kind of work anymore so most times I do it myself.
My basement floor has deteriorated and crumbled in places so I’m going to repair and resurface. What mix would you use if you planned on painting the floor instead of carpeting?
Hi Kent, I can't say unless I was there to see it , but I have a lot of videos on concrete repair, it might help, thanks Mike
Having the right grade to keep water from a foundation is especially important with stone foundations. Where I live, older houses were built with limestone foundations. They have sand between the stone and a little putty just on the outer edges. Rain water can cause this sand to wash out from between the limestone and cause major foundation problems.
Thanks Jon, I agree, Mike
had a preacher once tell me there's a difference in being white washed and washed white... great video.
Hi Jason, I think a good preacher or scholar are the most intelligent people in the world, thanks mike
I got dipped in buttermilk. I look like a big vanilla ice cream cone half melted in the sun.
Nice Mike, glad to see another video! Have a great holiday! JOHN. SV DIJAN
Hi John, same back at you, thanks , mike
Hi Mike, I’m a big fan of your channel. You are so smart and your experience is invaluable to home owners like me. I’m wondering, how would you go about insulating a fieldstone foundation? I am in the process of fixing my foundation which I noticed the inside beyond the first layer is all collapsed to the ground. I’m not even sure what more to do besides reach in and try to restack the stones. It’s cold in my basement so I’m thinking maybe I should insulate it but I can’t find any information I can rely on so I decided to ask a pro.
Hi K,,, I have a video called how I jackup a small porch or building, where i replaced some stones, other than that, usually a crawl space you need some ventilation so your rafters don't rot. There's a lot of things to be considered when insulating a basement, thanks mike
lmao if its not wet its not gonna stick! i love it
Thanks Mark, Mike
Great info mike as always. Happy christmas
thanks Darren, a Merry Christmas to you also, mike
Perfect! I love it.
Thanks, mike
Thanks Mike!
Thanks Nikolai, I appreciate it, Mike
Mike, I watch your videos a lot. Excellent information you bring to the table. My question is can you white wash over a latex paint? Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Daniel, I cannot say for certain, I would do a test and see what it looks like in a couple weeks or longer and see what happenskarma sometimes I’m surprised with cement will stick to , I appreciate it Mike
What do you think of my turning a red brick chimney into a white with this white wash method?
Hi Paul, they make a masonry paint for that, I think works much better like a water proofing, thanks, mike
Thank you so much.
Thanks William, Mike
Mike I have question on a basement floor since you are from old school of knowledge. It is old and done very poorly, very uneven. It is a basement for the storage of an oil tank, hot water heater and boiler. I have water that runs under the floor to the sump pump. The problem is in one area the water comes up through small holes. This area is about an inch below the rest of the floor. Water is not good for the boiler and such as they are on cement blocks, rust. I painted most of the floor 14 years ago with Dry Lock, It did not work. I prepped this area, cleaned the popped paint by chipping and grinding and wire brushing as well as the old paint with a grinder and wire brush. The paint is pretty solid as the floor is really rough. I wanted to put down Cement all ( Rapid Set )and then apply Rapid Set Waterproofing Mortar over that, as it would stop the water, however, it recommends not over paint. Have you had any success in this area of floor problems? If so, could use a little help or direction. In hind site I would have used the rapid set 14 years ago and floated the whole floor. Much appreciated, thanks if you can.
Hi Michael, in a bad case we would just rip up the whole floor , dig up or down lay the next next slab on gravel, then underneath to the pump, then how is your land pitched, and do you have rain gutters. Lots of variables in those cases but always a solution, I hope it helps, mike
Hi Mike, I'm curious why you brushed the water on originally and didn't use your handy sprayer that I usually see you use. I see that you used the sprayer before adding the mortar, but the first pass was done with a brush.
Hi ace , every job is a bit different and sometimes the sprayer does not do it fast enough, thanks mike
Mike Haduck Masonry Thanks Mike! Your videos are great by the way. I’ve got a 100 year old house and my old foundation has been crumbling away here and there in certain spots. Well, after watching a lot of your vids, I’ve gotten Portland cement and S mortar and have been doing repairs here and there and happy with the results. Thanks again!
Mike what product do you recommend for smoothing out basement walls that's a stone foundation. I had a handyman tell me to use masonry cement mixed with lime. Any suggestions would really help.
Hi Juleen, Lots of guys grew up leaning things a certain way and if it works it works, that is why in my videos I say this is how "I" do it, so as not to infringe on that, mixing in lime is an old school thing because that is all they had in the old days when they built them, some of the old timers thing I am wrong, I think you got to do a little experimenting and research to see what really works in your situation,,, I hope it helps thanks mike
Thank you Mike :)
Thanks deepsouth, Mike
Hi Mike, love the videos. Would whitewashing over a pre -existing, good condition drylocked cellar stone/cinderblock foundation wall hold up as long as drylock, which claims around 10 years? Im in Queens NY and no water entering.
The drylock is firmly bonded about 75% of the wall, 25% flaking off. I will scrape the loose portions, mortar, then whitewash the whole wall. I don't feel like spending big money on more drylock and I still have half a big bag of portland left. Thoughts? Im gonna tackle whitewashing my patio next :) Thank you in advance
Hi ermina, I can't say for sure but my next video is has a cellar fix again, usually not a big deal, I think dry lock is a great product thought, thanks mike
Fantastic!
thanks robert , I appreciate it. mike
Nice vid Mike
thanks Matt, I appreciate it. mike