07/28/2022
Stone work today! If you have noticed that your stones are cracking, it's ok, this is a very normal thing, however, a small crack can lead to a very large crack if not fixed! This can cause foundation issues! Foundation issues are more common with sidewalk cracks right next to your house as water is able to seep in and eventually do the same thing to your Foundation as it has done to the sidewalk!
Same principle for leaking gutters, gutter extensions that are too short, or a yard that slopes inward to the house. Bottom line.....water is bad!
Here is what happens (usually). Water gets inside of those small cracks, freezes and expands, then thaws, then freezes, etc... This causes cracks in stone, driveways, and sidewalks to eventually get much larger. (This can takes years before it's a major problem) It's usually even worse if the ground below the concrete wasn't packed correctly!
The DIY fix!
Buy some mortar caulk (as shown in the after picture) and fill those small cracks in before it starts getting cold! This keeps the moisture from seeping in and causing a pretty big problem down the road!
If your stones can be removed, apply construction adhesive to the backs of them (apply very generously) and stick them back in place! Find something to prop them against the wall in their original position to allow the adhesive to cure. (That's what the rocks underneath in the photos are for).
The last step with this project is to color match the mortar caulk to make it blend in!
The Pro Fix!
At the end of the day, nothing beats mortaring the stones again! This isn't as hard as you might think and the mortar you need can be purchased at Lowes or Menards!
As always, if you need help, I am just a phone call or message away with any of your projects!
Keith
Rapid City Handyman
(605) 593-1711
