Handyman Guide > Fieldstone

In some sections of the country, the home builder has an ever-present building material at hand in the form of field stones. Stones are excellent for many building jobs about the house; they are not too difficult to work with, have a pleasing appearance and, of course, if picked up on the premises, co

st nothing. Before you start any extensive building project with stones, take a few days to pile up a good assortment of them at the building site. Do not make the mistake of having to go off searching for the right size stone after your mortar is all mixed.

A good rule is to have all the stones you need for the job at hand before you start building. Select only good solid stones. Do not use those filled with cracks. Water will enter these cracks and freeze during the winter and perhaps damage the wall. Stones can be shaped to the proper size with a mason's or sledge hammer, and a cold chisel. Do not bother with very heavy stones except for the foundation of the wall. Large stones are difficult to work with and if they are too heavy to lift will require a derrick of some sort to get them in place. Do not try rolling a heavy stone into position with the aid of a plank as you may ruin the work that you have already done. The best policy is to use only stones that you can lift easily.

In laying a stone wall, keep both faces of the wall flush. Do not let stones protrude beyond tlie natural wall face, as ledges may be formed that will allow moisture to seep in and thus damage the construction. Use bond stones at frequent intervals to tie the wall together; if used in every 10 square feet or so, these will make strong walls. Bond stones run the full thickness of the wall and are the strengthening factors in a wall, binding it together.

The stones should be washed clean before they are used. If the stones are encrusted with dirt the mortar will not make a bond with the stone.

Mortar for the stones is made with 1 part cement to 3 parts sand. Add enough water to make a workable plastic and pack the mortar joints tight.



ANCHORING IN MASONRY

There are several different devices that ean be used to attach objects to concrete, brick, and other masonry. One of the most common for small jobs, such as bathroom fixtures, is the rawl plug.

Rawl Plug. The rawl plug can be used on any material that can be drilled. It is a simple arrangement consisting of a wood screw and a fiber jacket, specially treated for strength and durability. Drill a hole in the masonry, insert the jacket in the hole, and turn the screw in the jacket. The action of the threads of the screw causes the sides of the fiber jacket to expand against the sides of the hole.

To fasten a fixture to a wall, using a rawl plug, it is first necessary to drill the holes. Mark the location of the holes on the wall and be very careful that the measurements are correct. Use a rawl twist drill. The size of the drill must correspond to the size of the rawl plug. If the drill is too large, the plug will not work effectively. Place the point of the drill on the mark and strike the drill lightly with a hammer. Rotate the drill by hand after each blow of the hammer; this will make the cutting action more effective. When the drill has penetrated the wall slightly, it can be held loosely, so that it jumps a little after each blow of the hammer. Remove the drill from time to time and blow any loose material from the hole.

After the hole has been drilled to the required depth, the plug should be inserted. The plug must go deep enough so that the screw can be run in tightly after it has passed through the hole in the fixture to be attached. Put the screw through the hole in the fixture, insert the tip in the plug, and turn the screw with a screwdriver until the fixture is tight against the wall.
Continue to Anchoring in Masonry



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Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
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Plumbing
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Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

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