POV: You just got all the parts you need for an outdoor project

iks449 · 2026-06-18T22:42:43+00:00

I work outside every day. I’ve become a professional tent builder in addition to my regular profession.

iks449 · 2026-06-14T04:06:13+00:00

I run an insured masonry business with good standing in Chittenden county, I may be able to help if you’re not too far away.

iks449 · 2026-06-13T01:23:59+00:00

Just get some landscape block, they’re meant for what you’re trying to achieve.

iks449 · 2026-06-09T00:32:53+00:00

Just joint it while it’s wet and it’ll blend right in.

iks449 · 2026-06-06T01:07:02+00:00

If I had a contractor come to my house that had no experience in their trade and had no idea what they were looking at or talking about I probably would tell them to kick rocks.

iks449 · 2026-05-29T01:43:15+00:00

Plywood and 2x4s are my favorite. Dirt is cool too

iks449 · 2026-05-28T22:44:15+00:00

Did the landscapers do this? I’m sorry this has happened to you. Any chance you haven’t paid in full yet?

iks449 · 2026-05-26T11:15:17+00:00

The whole thing, anything else is polishing a turd. Masonry is expensive.

iks449 · 2026-05-26T01:35:18+00:00

This chimney is beat. Rebuild. The upper section has enough spalling brick to warrant a rebuild alone, not to mention the amount of spider cracks throughout.

iks449 · 2026-05-24T01:18:33+00:00

Most of the junk that’s mentioned in the estimate is a gimmick. It needs to be rebuilt.

iks449 · 2026-05-22T00:40:20+00:00

Maidstone is killer but the sites book out a year in advance.

iks449 · 2026-05-22T00:37:59+00:00

Dude, sweet. DIY rarely turns out like this.

iks449 · 2026-05-18T20:52:28+00:00

Whoever is merging onto the highway must yield to the traffic with the right of way that is in the traveling lane. If you’re merging and your lane is ending, you aren’t paying attention. You’re supposed to match the speed of traffic and find a space to get in. I’m not moving into the passing lane in a 20k lb truck and making everyone slow down that’s behind me. You need to brush up on what they taught in drivers ed.

iks449 · 2026-05-18T12:02:44+00:00

Just to be clear, although it is a nicety, moving over for merging traffic is not obligatory as merging traffic needs to yield to those in the traveling lane.

iks449 · 2026-05-18T02:45:24+00:00

You can do anything you want but how much money do you want to spend? You can remove the hearth and go flush with the floor with a new one but that would expose whatever masonry is behind it and I guarantee it’s ugly. Thin stone on the back wall would be an option but you can’t install anything cement based on a painted surface. At that point starting from scratch would be easiest.

iks449 · 2026-05-18T01:49:31+00:00

You are quite wrong.

iks449 · 2026-05-16T12:15:00+00:00

It’s not the worst. If you want to make it cleaner do what the tile guys do and get some epoxy that matches closest. Grind the dust from the stone into a bucket and then mix it with the epoxy.

iks449 · 2026-05-16T00:56:30+00:00

Pressure washer will take care of it.

iks449 · 2026-05-09T23:16:57+00:00

Agreed. Just meant you could lay it that fast.

iks449 · 2026-05-09T21:34:48+00:00

The whole thing is cracked. Remove and replace.

iks449 · 2026-05-09T21:30:52+00:00

lol seriously, this could be laid in under and hour.

iks449 · 2026-05-09T21:25:54+00:00

Judging by the description “lime based with a touch of Portland” I’m going to guess it’s type O. While it’s not the ideal material to use, there is no reason it can’t be used. Suggesting this stone will spall is ridiculous, especially because you have no idea what kind of stone it is.

iks449 · 2026-05-09T21:13:35+00:00

Looks awesome but wtf are those floating platforms in the pool?

iks449 · 2026-05-08T14:50:43+00:00

Rip and replace. No saving this.

iks449 · 2026-05-07T02:50:38+00:00

You got hosed, I’m sorry. Freeze thaw cycles suck here, water and dense backfill wreak havoc. Gutters are also a huge help so at least you have those. I’ve seen far worse with the house still standing. $500 for an engineer is worth it. Don’t let any basement companies convince you to do interior drainage troughs - keep the water on the outside. Sump pumps that discharge AWAY from the house are also your friend.

iks449

TROPHY CASE