Building Materials & Supplies

A simple device developed for the Handyman, Homeowner and Do-it-yourselfer as well as the Professional Mason to Lay Concrete, Cement, Cinder Block and Brick like a pro! Fast, Easy and foolproof....

Thin set mortar contains latex, which allows it to be more resilient to everyday wear and tear. These additives also make thin set mortar more flexible, which is important because changes in room...

Laying a tile floor requires a strong, immobile underlayment. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that it's possible (and even advantageous) to lay new tile over an existing tile floor or over...

Curing, done properly, ensures that your concrete and mortar grow as strong as possible. It occurs in two steps. First is the original hardening process, which is quick. Second, the concrete and...

Travertine is a form of stone rich in mineral deposits, air holes and other variations. When cut into tiles, it creates a distinctive look of pockmarks and holes throughout the tile face. Since...

Ceramic floor tile can be laid with either a chemical tile adhesive---which resembles an acrylic glue---or thinset mortar, which is more like cement. Which you choose to use is up to you, though,...

Mosaic tiles are very small tiles (often around one square inch), which are sold pre-mounted on mesh-backed sheets of two square feet or more for easy installation. Like any other tile, they need...

Normally, you'll want to lay your ceramic tile floor over a strong, flat underlayment like thick plywood or (preferably) cement board. However, if there's already a ceramic floor there, it...

The best underlayment for tile floor installation is a hard, immobile surface---including an existing tile surface. Yes, tile can be laid over other tile, and in fact it's sometimes a better base...

The manufacture and use of concrete was at the heart of most major Roman architectural achievements. From the aqueducts to the Roman baths, this solid but easy to use building material created...

Most packaging instructions for laying tiles will tell you to start with a perfectly flat and even surface, to ensure that the tiles are flat and even in the end. Like many home project...

Bricks are an attractive material you can use for home improvements, DIY projects and building furniture. Brick walkways make a pleasant path in your garden or lawn and will keep the mud off of...

Ease of use makes ceramic tile one of the most popular kinds of tile--especially among do-it-yourselfers. The clay base gives ceramic tiles an advantage over stone because it is easy to cut and...

Mortar is a popular compound similar to concrete or cement and is often used in various home improvement projects. Whether you need to repair a wall, fill a hole or patch a driveway, mortar is an...

Thin set is an adhesive used to attach tile or stone to a surface. It typically comes in powdered form and needs to be mixed with cool water. The mix is a blend of concrete, sand and additives....

Unlike its heartier cousins marble and granite, travertine is a rather soft stone, making it far more susceptible to chemical and physical damage. Additionally, travertine's internal structure is...

Wall tiles don't have to sustain weight the way that floor tiles do, so the tile backerboard you use on walls doesn't have to be as strong as the tile underlayment you use on floors. However, it...

Cement backerboard has become the standard for laying or hanging tiles, replacing the plywood underlayment and wetrock walls that used to be used. Cement backerboard, when properly installed,...

The recipe for mortar has changed through time, having been around for thousands of years in differing regions. Modern mortar is made of either cement powder or lime (or a combination of the two)...

Empty wine bottles can be used for a large number of arts and crafts projects around the house, from flower vases to incense burners. If you have a lot of empty wine bottles lying around, you can...

Laying tile requires a few basic tools--tape measure, pencil, chalk snap line (for the layout)--and a lot of specialized ones. You'll need highly specialize materials for the process as well....

Man has been using natural materials in home building since the beginning. With the more common use of artificial materials in home constructions, many of us like to use the looks of nature to...

Porcelain tile is a harder, more expensive version of its cousin, ceramic. Made with pressed clay dust, it's one of the harder tiles you can buy, which makes it an excellent choice for floors. It...

Grouting granite tile is a little different from grouting most other kinds of tile, because you're trying to achieve a special look. Granite surfaces are supposed to be smooth and straight,...

When building a project it will vary on the type of bricks you will need to use. For instance, if you are working on foundation, a large wall, or an outside fireplace it is best to use cinder...

Yoy will need many materials to install a granite countertop. You may be currently overwhelmed by all the choices you have solely in the colors of granite. But the material selection and...

Mortar is a workable mixture that is used as a bonding agent to bind masonry, such as brick or stone, to other masonry or other surfaces. Common mortar is usually made of a mixture of lime, sand,...

Cultured stone is a man-made concrete stone product molded and colored to replicate the random patterning and coloration of natural stone. Installing cultured stone on concrete is effective as...

Have you ever wondered why some bricks have holes and some don't? There are two types of bricks: paving bricks that do not have holes and structural building bricks that have 2-3 holes in each...

Wire mesh is sometimes used in mortar when doing masonry work such as applying brick to a wall or patio. Mesh can also be used as a option when tiling a floor in a home or building. When a floor...

Not only does ceramic tile add a distinct beauty to your home, it is also easy to care for and quite durable. Clean up is a snap. Floors require occasional sweeping and scrubbing, while counters...

Brick BBQ pits come in many different sizes---the larger the pit, the more you can cook at one time. Consider personal entertaining needs when choosing size. Once a brick BBQ pit is built it...

An ideal security barrier, glass blocks suitably provide the ambiance of natural outdoor lighting filtered through textured glass. They provide light to otherwise dark spaces, and they are...

Mortar is a workable paste made of water and cement. The first mortars were made of mud or clay and water. It is used primarily in bricklaying but may also be used for tile and stone work. Mortar...

Mortar mix is an adhesive and is used to lay items, such as brick or tile. There are a few different types of mortar used for different types of jobs. Thin set mortar is used for floors and...

If you are working on a construction project that requires laying bricks, creating a solid foundation or doing stonework, you will need to create a bonding material known as mortar. Mortar is a...

Remodeling and recycling can go hand in hand when it comes to using the bricks that you may already have from a previous project. Instead of buying new bricks, remove the mortar from the bricks...

Used brick adds charm and visual appeal to many building projects, but it's essential that you use the proper methods to clean the used brick. Cleaning the brick maintains it's beautiful weathered...

The cordwood building technique, often referred to as "stovewood" or "stackwall," is a traditional way to build a home with very few materials. A corwood builder will make a house by binding...

The cordwood building technique, often referred to as "stovewood" or "stackwall," is a traditional way to build a home with very few materials. A corwood builder will make a house by binding...

Grout, often called mortar, is key to successful tile installation. Determining how much you need to complete a tile project is the first step towards its completion. You can take the guesswork...

How you drypack over a radiant heat floor partially depends on the type of radiant heat you have installed--hydroponic or electric. Of course, each hydroponic system differs slightly. Here are a...

Backer boards are installed underneath or behind ceramic tile and natural stone installations in your home. Backer board comes in various sizes and is similar in construction to drywall. With the...

The mortar joints in brickwork are what hold the bricks together. The joints are a structural requirement for the brickwork to maintain the weight of the brickwork. A raked joint is one style of...

A flushed style mortar joint is a common joint used in brickwork. It's best used as an interior joint or for areas that do not have heavy rain or snow. A flushed joint creates a heavy shadow in...

When laying tile it is imperative to buy the correct adhesive to keep your floor strong and beautiful for years to come. Mortar thin set is relatively easy to use and forgiving, making it a...

Who says you can't live in a glass house? Glass blocks may be square or rectangular and can be used in any non-load-bearing wall where you want more light with privacy. Here are a few steps to...