Masonry

Learn more about masonry projects— big and small.

S5 E24, Tom Silva repoints a brick foundation

How to Repoint a Brick Foundation

Replacing crumbling, missing mortar with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva

How to Make and Mix Concrete

Concrete projects can be tough work. While there isn’t much you can do about the labor, you can lighten the load on your wallet by making your own concrete mix. The process is simple, and you can tailor your mix for perfect results.

Mason explaining to homeowner how to use mortar as a brick hole filler.

How to Fill a Hole in a Brick Wall

We show you how to fill a hole in a brick wall with mortar, matching bricks, and tools you can rent.

How to Repoint a Stone Foundation

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva saves a crumbling mortared-rock foundation wall

S20 E3, Mark McCullough demonstrates filling holes in brick

How to Fill Anchor Holes in Brick

Mason Mark McCullough teaches Kevin O’Connor how to patch holes in a tough surface.

Types of Retaining Wall Materials

Read this guide to compare four different materials and approaches to decide how to build your retaining wall.

4 Inexpensive Retaining Wall Ideas

We rounded up our best retaining wall ideas so you can plan your DIY landscaping project.

How to Cut a Granite Countertop

Cutting granite for kitchen countertops whether indoors or outdoors—is a DIY-able job. But there are some caveats to consider before getting started.

How to Resurface Worn Concrete

Trowel concrete resurfacer over your worn walkway, and you'll have a brand new, durable surface with uniform color. Before you get started, check out this how-to video on working with concrete.

How to Match Mortar

Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough explains how to match mortar for repointing jobs

How to Drill into Brick

Brick is an incredibly durable and long-lasting material. But if you need to hang a picture or mount a shelf to a brick wall, the usual methods can make the job seem impossible.

How to Install Stacked Stone Veneer on a Fireplace

Ask This Old House mason, Mark McCullough, helps a homeowner update her concrete block, wood burning fireplace with a stacked stone veneer and a slab of stone.

How to Make Stone Cuts with a Power Saw Look Natural

Ask This Old House Mason Mark McCullough explains how stone edges are cut to fit into a wall and how to integrate those cuts seamlessly with the rest of the stone wall.

How to Repoint Brick Steps

Ask This Old House Mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner identify the culprit behind her cracking, front brick steps, and then repoints them using the correct material.

How to Repoint Brick Using Only Hand Tools

Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough visits Milwaukee to teach a homeowner how to repoint brick

Enhancing a Historic Home with Natural Stone

At the This Old House Season 42 project, the Seaside Victorian Cottage, Mason Mark McCullough shows us how Polycor’s natural stone elements increased curb appeal and brought new life to the backyard. To learn more, visit hardscapes.polycor.com.

How to Cover a Concrete Wall with Stone Veneer

Dressing up a block wall with stone-veneer panels, with This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook

How To Build a Stone Planter

Stack cast-concrete blocks in a tiered pattern to give your curb appeal a hefty boost

Chimney Designs

Designing a chimney involves balancing function and aesthetics. Here are unique 9 chimney designs in shape, size, and style.

How to Drill into Concrete

If you’re a DIYer of almost any level, chances are you’ll need to know how to drill into concrete or masonry at some point. Whether you’re mounting shelves on a cinder block garage wall, installing a window box on brick veneer or stucco, or mounting outdoor lighting onto stone, you’ll have to know how to drill into concrete.