Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
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Co-authored Articles (46)
How to
Build a Cinder Block Wall
Whether you're building a retaining wall or just need some extra privacy, a cinder block wall is an affordable way to get the job done. Once you've got your base set up, it just takes some finesse in building the wall up...
How to Lay a Block Wall with Cement or Cinder Blocks
Build a retaining wall with this easy-to-follow guideAre you starting the foundation for a large structure or building a retaining wall? If so, you’re probably preparing to lay some concrete blocks. Laying concrete blo...
How to
Drill Into Concrete
A complete DIY guide for drilling into concrete with a hammer drill and masonry drill bitDrilling a hole in concrete is a useful and handy technique. You can put up shelves, hang paintings, install lights, and do much mo...
How to
Form Concrete Walls
Concrete is one of the cleanest and most versatile types of wall material available. Whether you need a wall as a property marker, a support structure, or to hold back soil or water, you can make one by building wood fr...
How to
Build a Brick Wall
A DIY brick wall is a budget-friendly and fun project. Whether you're looking to build a garden wall or just learn the fundamentals of bricklaying, we've got you covered. But while the basics of brick and mortar are easy...
How to
Build Concrete Steps
Building your own concrete steps is a challenging and labor-intensive project, but it's also a great money saver. If you're an experienced DIYer with some knowledge of working with concrete, you can make your own steps w...
How to
Repair Cinder Block Walls
Cinder block walls may be sturdy, but continual wear over time can cause cracks or holes. In severe cases, you may even need to replace sections of the wall for its stability. But while cinder block walls may seem intimi...
How to
Nail Into Brick
Brick is a strong, porous material that can break if not handled or treated carefully. While an interior brick wall can be a desirable, decorative surface, it does increase the difficulty of hanging pictures or shelves. ...
How To Sculpt Stone Like an Artist
A guide to carving stone with a chisel, hammer, and other tools to create your own works of art Artists have been carving stone for thousands of years, producing iconic sculptures like Michelangelo’s David and the Grea...
How to
Fill Concrete Holes
If your home has concrete, you may notice holes forming due to strong weather or rodents. Most holes can be fixed with a quality mortar mix, although you should use one with a crushed stone aggregate to fill holes over ...
How to
Tie Rebar
Building with concrete involves many steps to achieve the best results, including forming, grading, placing, and finishing. One critical step is placing the reinforcing bars, or ''rebar'', correctly, and this article wi...
An Expert-Approved Guide to Cutting Brick like a Pro
What you need to know about using a chisel or power saw to cut brickBricks are ideal materials for creating walkways and support structures. With a high degree of durability and a wide price range, they can be adapted fo...
How to
Mix Cement
Whenever a project calls for a hard, permanent binding material, most professional and independent builders use cement. Before using cement, you need to mix it with sand and stone. While this process can seem overwhelmin...
How to
Pour Concrete
Knowing how to pour concrete can help you save a few dollars on small projects around the house. You can pour concrete using items you have in the shed or garage; it does not have to take any special tools to do minor pr...
How to
Build Brick Columns
Brick columns can add a timeless, classic touch to any home or structure. Whether you're interested in a brick column for decorative purposes or need one to support a structure, building your own is a fairly straightforw...
How to
Bolt Into Concrete
If you want to make home improvements, there's a good chance that you'll eventually have to attach something to concrete. While this can seem daunting at first, there are ways that you can do it yourself without having t...
How to
Make Cement
The words cement and concrete are used interchangeably, but that’s not technically correct. Cement, in fact, is one of several ingredients that are combined to make concrete. Cement is a powdery, dry substance that mak...
How to
Add Concrete to Existing Concrete
No matter how strong a slab of concrete seems, it will wear out over time. Imperfections form when concrete hardens or sinks into the ground. Adding fresh concrete is a common way to level out old slabs and patch damage....
How to
Make Bricks from Concrete
Bricks have been primarily used for wall coverings over the years, but they can be used for decorative purposes as well. Historically, the common brick has been molded from clay and fired in a kiln, but you can make bric...
How to
Repair a Concrete Floor
While concrete is a strong construction material, it can still crack. Temperature changes, heavy weights, and dropped objects can all damage your concrete floor by causing cracks and holes. Fortunately, patching damaged ...
