cutting granite fieldstone (foundation)
Hi,
This question didn’t come up in a search of the forum, so either this is competely unique idea or a completely stupid idea…
Our house has a fieldstone foundation wall, and we are refinishing our basement. For the majority of the wall we are building a perimeter stud wall against the foundation wall, but in one location, where the stairwell comes down, framing out from the wall is not an option because it would make the stairway too narrow. So we have come up with the idea to finish the wall by mortaring 1/2″ Wedi boards to the fieldstone (using dollops of mortar so there would still be an airspace of sorts behind the boards), then finishing the wall with either beadboard or a plaster skimcoat. This would leave us with a smooth, insulated wall that eats up less than 3/4″ of space. In a couple of locations on the wall though there are protruding granite boulders, which I would like to take down a couple of inches. I have been going at one of them with a mason’s chisel and sledgehammer, have already broken the chisel, have also tried using a hammer drill with a carbide bit and have melted the bits before even getting 1/2″ into the rock. Any suggestions?
Replies
Them Granite Rocks sure suk! Have you try tnt?....LOL you should maybe heavy duty hammerdrill and drill a few hole, then use wedges and sledge it should break!
Mark
Edited 7/10/2005 9:35 am ET by xxxredsoxxx
dynamite?
:o)
someone will come and give you a sensible suggestion in a short while.
I'm assuming you don't want to pay a stone mason to do it, although that might be the easiest way.
When faced with a similar need to take a small area of concrete down a couple of inches, I cut a series of parallel slots about 1 inch apart using an angle grinder and dry cutting diamond blade. I then used a hammer and chisel to knock the ribs (the bits between the slots) out – it all went pretty quick. Two passes with the diamond blade and hammer got me the depth I wanted. No reason this wont work with granite. You need a steady hand so the blade doesn't bind in the slot as you cut it.
BTW, the grinder makes a fair bit of dust so a quality dust mask is a good idea.
Ian
>>protruding granite boulders,
Those are called "Features."
Some people pay good money to have stones protrude thru an otherwise plain wall.
Samt
Unfortunately, the stones in question are protruding into an already too narrow stairwell. They are at perfect calf-gouging height.
Whatcha doin' with cattle in yer basement?
(|:>)
Samt
score the stone with a diamond blade mounted in yur ngle grinder...
drive a wedge, spade or brick chisel in to the cut....
clean up as desired with a chipping hammer...
cattle gaurds at the top and bottoms of the stairs...