Concrete and Masonry - Page 36 of 47

A variation of the Rumford design reflects heat into the room rather than letting it disappear up the chimney.

A carpenter uses shop-built sections and sturdy foundations for a traditional structure.

Used overseas successfully for decades, this innovative foundation system uses carefully placed insulation and a slab with integral footings instead of conventional deep frost walls.

Unlike a plywood or backerboard substrate, a modified mud job might be more reliable over the long haul.

I was on a job that required a poured-concrete step with 6-in. radius curved corners. I've had good luck in the past using hardboard to form odd-shaped curves, but the…

Concrete slabs, thin slabs, and metal plates offer different ways of routing radiant heat underneath every floor in the home.

Q: Last year, we had frost-heave problems with several patios and driveways that we built. When the temperature dropped to near 0°F for several days straight, some of the patios…

Helical piers go in like giant drywall screws to support a sinking house and a new addition.

An engineer offers a few simple changes to make walls and foundations much sturdier.

When I build an arbor, I like to elevate the posts above grade on concrete piers. The posts last longer that way, and if they ever need replacing, they are…