Dear James: Our concrete patio looks pretty drab. We painted it several years ago, but the finish did not last long. How else can we add some lasting color to it?—Debi T. Dear Debi: A newly poured concrete patio can look nice, but it quickly becomes a dull gray. If you have decorative landscaping around…
The Harsh Truth About Concrete Pavers
New products are constantly being introduced by the home improvement industry. If you’ve been around long enough, you can spot ones that have lots of sizzle but most likely won’t stand the test of time. I had that feeling 40 years ago when I first saw colored concrete paving bricks. It turns out my gut…
Self-Healing Stone: Scientists Unravel Roman Concrete Recipe From 2,000 Years Ago, How It Works
Our cities are falling apart. Once-lovely concrete bridges now show rusted rebar. Sidewalks buckle and crack underfoot—even though they’re not that old. In just a short few decades, our concrete cities are already crumbling. Ancient Roman concrete, meanwhile, continues to endure after thousands of years of weather, waves, and wear. Structures like the Pantheon in…
Police Digging out Body Found in Concrete Grave Under Condo
DENVER—Police in Colorado on Thursday continued to dig out a body encased in concrete that was found in a condo crawl space they believe is of a man killed by a friend and alleged partner in crime during a fight last year. The mounded concrete grave, with apparent human remains visible through its cracks, was…
10-Year-Old Boy Trapped in Concrete Pillar in Vietnam Pronounced Dead
A 10-year-old boy who fell into a deep and narrow hole at a construction site on New Year’s Eve in Vietnam has been pronounced dead by authorities. Rescuers spent nearly 100 hours trying to free Ly Hao Nam from the 35-meter (115-foot) long support pillar driven into the ground, but without success, online newspaper VnExpress…
Rescuers in Vietnam Try to Save Boy Trapped in Concrete Pile
HANOI—Rescuers in Vietnam were desperately trying to free a 10-year boy on Monday two days after he fell into the narrow open shaft of a concrete pile at a construction site on New Year’s Eve. Ly Hao Nam was heard crying for help shortly after he fell into the pile on Saturday morning, but rescuers…
Ask the Builder: Bringing Stamped Concrete Back to Life
If you’ve witnessed hundreds and hundreds of full moons in your lifetime and make frequent use of your critical-thinking skills, you know the sun is constantly at work ruining things inside and outside your home. One of these might be the expensive stamped-concrete patio, driveway or sidewalk you had installed a few years ago. The…
How to Transform Concrete to Any Color
Every day, I receive quite a few emails via the Ask Tim page AskTheBuilder.com. A common question, believe it or not, is how to add color to concrete. It makes sense. A lot of people dislike the drab gray color of concrete. So people ask me about painting garage floors, steps, patios and even sidewalks….
What You Learn Nosing Around an Old House
Days ago, I was in the basement of an old house with my son. We were looking at the boiler, the structure and the foundation walls. He’s about to become a first-time property owner. For the past four years he’s been renting a loft apartment, saving so he can make a sizable down payment. I’ve…
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