The Complete Guide to
MASONRY
& STONEWORK
Updated with New Products & Techniques
• Poured Concrete
• Brick & Block
• Natural Stone
• Stucco
Contents
Introduction
Gallery of Masonry & Stonework
POURED CONCRETE
Concrete Basics
Preparing a Project Site
Setting Concrete Posts
Concrete Piers
Poured Footings for Freestanding Walls
Poured Concrete Walkway
Concrete Steps
Entryway Steps
Poured Concrete Slab
Round Patio
Poured Concrete Wall
Poured Concrete Retaining Wall
Cast Concrete
Kitchen Countertop
BRICK & BLOCK
Brick & Block Basics
Dry Block Wall
Block Retaining Wall
Outdoor Kitchen
Brick Barbecue
Brick Planter
Brick Pillars
Brick Archway
Brick Wall Veneer
Mortared Brick Patio
NATURAL STONE
Natural Stone Basics
Dry Stone Wall
Mortared Stone Wall
Stone Retaining Wall
Arroyo (Dry Streambed)
Stone Firepit
Mortared Flagstone Patio
Flagstone Garden Steps
Rock Garden
Stone Moon Window
Cobblestone Paver Patio
Sandset Flagstone Patio
Pebbled Stepping Stone Path
Zen Garden
DECORATIVE MASONRY FINISHING
Stamped Concrete Finishes
Acid-stained Concrete Patio
Decorative Concrete Floor
Stucco Finish
Stone Veneer
Mortarless Brick Veneer Siding
Tiling a Concrete Slab
Tiling Concrete Steps
REPAIR & MAINTENANCE
Repairing Concrete
Patching Cracks
Quick Fixes for Wet Walls
Renewing an Old Concrete Slab
Repairing Steps
Miscellaneous Concrete Repairs
Brick Repairs
Repairing & Replacing Chimney Caps
Repairing Stonework
Repairing Stucco
Pressure-washing Masonry
Conversion Table
Resources
Photography Credits
Index
Introduction
Masonry is a popular home building material for many reasons, including its beauty,
versatility, and resistance to fire, earthquakes, and sound transmission. And let’s not
forget its remarkable durability. While few of us imagine that our homes will exist for
centuries, when we choose masonry we’re choosing a material that has precisely that
capability. Some of the world’s most venerable masonry structures—the Taj Mahal, the
Egyptian Pyramids, the Colosseum in Rome, the Great Sphinx of Giza—have awed
countless generations with their ability to withstand time.
Poured Concrete introduces you to the tools, materials, and basic techniques necessary
for accomplishing functional and attractive concrete projects. You’ll learn foundation
skills that allow you to build projects ranging from foundations to retaining walls and for
inside, a kitchen island countertop. We walk you through each project, step-by-step,
providing illustrative photos to guide the way.
Brick & Block includes projects such as building a brick barbecue and laying a mortared
brick patio. You’ll learn the tools, materials, and skills necessary to complete basic brick
projects and sophisticated designs. A comprehensive section of projects gives you an
opportunity to explore the possibilities of brick and block as a functional, long-lasting,
and aesthetically pleasing construction medium.
Natural Stone introduces fresh design interpretations for an age-old material. Versatile
and texturally interesting, natural stone is an increasingly popular landscaping material,
and a robust selection of paver materials that resemble old-world stone are accessible and
easy to use in building projects. We’ll show you the various types of stone, how to
choose appropriate material for your project, and techniques you’ll want to master before
taking on the projects in this book. Then, we give you a portfolio of natural stone ideas
and step-by-step instructions to accomplish them at home.
Decorative Masonry Finishing shows you how to add interest to concrete surfaces,
install veneer siding, and accomplish a stucco finish. These skills will help you customize
other projects in this book.
Repair & Maintenance teaches you how to make quick fixes and take on more
substantial repair projects to keep your masonry and stonework projects in top condition.
So, dig in! Peruse each section and earmark projects that interest you. You may want to
make a priority list—one project inevitably leads to another. Consider yourself a masonry
apprentice learning a time-honored craft and let us expose you to the hands-on
techniques and creative possibilities.
Gallery of Masonry & Stonework
In their raw state, concrete and rocks are about the most humble building materials you
can find. But add some inspiration and a little hard work, and you’ll be amazed at the
feats that can be accomplished with these simple products. The projects featured on the
following pages are just a sampling of the beauty of masonry.
Stone slabs placed in a slope create natural garden steps in casual or formal settings.
A natural stone retaining wall and mortared flagstone driveway add structural interest to this home
and provide a formal entryway.
Natural clay tile and a clay brick garden wall are separated by a border of light porcelain tiles. The
contrasting porcelain color creates a visual bridge between the slightly differing brick tones of the
patio and wall.
This stacked stone wall provides the framework for an outdoor kitchen. It combines natural and cast
stones.
Stucco is a very popular and highly durable siding product that is created using modified masonry
materials, tools, and techniques.
Blocks, pavers, and natural stone all find a home in this landscape. Included are two retaining walls
(one cut stone, one interlocking block with cast capstones), a concrete paver walkway, and wellchosen landscape boulders.
Terracing is a landscaping technique in which a series of retaining walls are built to break up a slope
into small, flat areas.
Cast cobble stones emulate the look of natural stone paving, with tumbled surfaces and random
coloration. They are usually laid in regular patterns.
Cast concrete can be formed into a host of useful and decorative items for the garden, such as this
planter cast in a 5-gallon bucket.
Poured concrete sidewalks don’t need to be straight and uniform. Curves go a long way toward
visually softening this rock-hard material.
Veneer stone has a refined, timeless appearance that is a very convincing imitation of natural stone.
Because the manmade product weighs less than natural stone and is engineered for ease of installation,
it is a very practical solution for siding your home.
Brick veneer transforms these cast concrete column bases from unremarkable to elegant. The resulting
posts have the strength and durability of concrete and the beauty of brick.
The massive presence of concrete is used to great design advantage in the cast concrete elements
found in the patio and fireplace above. The simple lines and monochromatic tones give the patio a
contemporary feel.
Concrete pavers in various sizes and shapes add visual appeal when used in stairs and as planters.
Cast stepping stones allow landscapers to apply creative touches to the otherwise plain concrete gray
tones. In this case, the gaps between stepping stones are filled with crushed gravel.
The exposed aggregate squares in this concrete patio take on the look of high-end landscape design
because they are separated into a grid bordered by brick pavers.
Curves and nonlinear designs add great visual interest and create natural stopping points near
landscape features.
A stairway landing is used to create a resting place and to allow you to adjust the stairway design so
all of the treads are the same depth.
Cut flagstone patios and walkways are more formal in appearance and easier to walk on than surfaces
made with uncut flags.
Poured Concrete
Poured concrete is versatile, sturdy, and highly functional for walkways, foundations,
and even decorative features like garden steps. Concrete is back-to-the-basics—a
standard material because of its weather-ready qualities and ability to stand the test of
time. Plus, with today’s creative applications for poured concrete you’ll enjoy
customizing a slab, experimenting with casting, and learning how to pour structures that
will enhance your living environment.