Can you tell me more about this beautiful Library/Museum of Picture Books in Iwaki, Japan? It was designed by Tadao Ando and completed in 2004 but doesn't show up in any list of his works. [more inside]
posted on Jul 25, 2008 - 3 answers

How can I make concrete somewhat easily breakable? [more inside]
posted on May 1, 2008 - 26 answers

Trail running shoes on concrete? [more inside]
posted on Apr 7, 2008 - 8 answers

What's the purpose of painting concrete/cement block black and what are those flaps above the windows for? [more inside]
posted on Mar 5, 2008 - 11 answers

Outside on the concrete floor of the back yard, it's all green and slippery. What to do to get rid of the algae? [more inside]
posted on Feb 10, 2008 - 13 answers

I need some ideas to build 5 outdoor steps leading up to a door. Must be steps that can be built in the most quickest, cheapest and easiest of ways. I'm open to any unconventional plans - and of course would appreciate photos of the ideas. Right now I have at my disposal cement mix and tons of building rubble made from concrete. Wondering if the rubble can be recycled to build with. Any ideas - much appreciated!
posted on Oct 28, 2007 - 9 answers

Looking for advice on rebuilding / repairing a section of concrete block (cinder block ) wall that once upon a time separated two yards. If nothing else, the dog is happy with the new expanded yard. [more inside]
posted on Sep 5, 2007 - 4 answers

What is the best way to heat a 600 square foot concrete slab? [more inside]
posted on Aug 17, 2007 - 10 answers

I want to keep a few bicycles on my patio (concrete slab): how can I keep them secure? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2007 - 10 answers

I am constructing a large backyard chessboard, but can't decide from what to create the pieces. Ideas? [more inside]
posted on May 23, 2007 - 27 answers

My wife would like to demolish two 28'l x 2.5'w x 4"d concrete sidewalk tomorrow. She went and talked to Home Depot about renting an electric jackhammer per the recommendation of a buddy who will be helping her. When talking to the tool rental guy*, he suggested that she think about a demolition hammer but in reading their site the breaker seems like a better bet. She really wants to be the one to do this and she is small framed which may be the reason for the demo hammer recommendation. I suspect that it will end up being me doing the work after she realizes how jarring it will be so her doing the work should probably not be a factor. Does anyone have any experiences that would point us to one or the other? * Tool rental guy is apparently a Hilti guy who is onsite at this home depot and the demo hammer is a Hilti too.
posted on Mar 30, 2007 - 20 answers

Why is it that when it starts to rain, some blocks of concrete sidewalk are completely soaked, while others appear to be completely dry? [more inside]
posted on Jan 12, 2007 - 7 answers

We want to paint the floor in our basement office. Having removed the dark red 1970s shag, there is cement underneath, but it is sealed. 1. Is it worth it to remove the concrete sealant to use a stain? 2. Can we paint over the concrete sealant using an epoxy paint? 3. Would it just be cheaper/easier to slap down some linoleum squares? Thank you, Metafilterians, for your words of home improvement wisdom. [more inside]
posted on Oct 22, 2006 - 12 answers

Any ideas for faux concrete? [more inside]
posted on Aug 30, 2006 - 10 answers

Seeking advice on how top water seepage in basement [more inside]
posted on Aug 26, 2006 - 7 answers

Anybody know how to remove old carpet padding glue from concrete basement floor? Remodeling the room, want to paint the concrete floor (more inside). [more inside]
posted on Jul 12, 2006 - 8 answers

Dealing with "permanent" artwork from the former homeowner: Is there an easy way to replace just a few tiles in a shower? What about some of the more "creative" concrete work? [more inside]
posted on Jun 20, 2006 - 9 answers

I recently bought a house that fronts a busy street that is also quite popular with the bass thumping, custom exhaust crowd. Anyone have any advice on building a tasteful noise abatement fence or wall? [more inside]
posted on Apr 19, 2006 - 15 answers

So why do fresh concrete pavements / sidewalks eventually go dark? [more inside]
posted on Mar 15, 2006 - 16 answers

What's the best (most effective and cost efficient) way to fix undermined concrete steps? [more inside]
posted on Oct 9, 2005 - 3 answers

Impermeabilization/Waterproofing of a garage concrete floor ? I have seen garages covered with goey smelly petroleum based substances that couldn't be properly cleaned as the substanced penetrated somehow into the floor (guess it's years of percolation ?). What paintable product could I apply ? Please try referring to a specific kind-of-product rather then a brand.
posted on Sep 30, 2005 - 15 answers

Rapid self-design house building in the UK. I have an ill-informed notion that this should be possible by using pre-formed concrete slabs, but can find very little information. Can anyone shed any light on the subject? [more inside]
posted on Aug 9, 2005 - 6 answers

After popping off our (hideous) ceramic floor tiles, how do I get the cement mortar down to the level of our concrete floor? [more inside]
posted on Jun 28, 2005 - 7 answers

I'm thinking of building my own kitchen counter-tops from concrete. I have some how-to books and have talked to a friend who is doing it as well, but thought I'd put the question out to AskMefi. What has been your experience? Any tips or tricks? Any special materials or sealers? Thanks!
posted on Apr 25, 2005 - 11 answers

we have a deck on our house where I've planted tomatoes in the past. we wanted to get a custom plant container that is 3 feet high, 6 feet long and 2.5 feet wide custom made for that space. it is prohibitively expensive. i thought I remember reading somewhere about making plant containers using concrete and peat moss or something to make it lighter in weight. i think i read it in martha stewart or something. i can't remember how to do it. it's not a big deck so the dimensions are really limited. any suggestions?
posted on Mar 23, 2005 - 12 answers

Can you lay Pergo over concrete? We are negotiating with a builder to buy a house he's built. The negotiations revolve around what kind of flooring he will install. There's a family room with a concrete floor in the lowest level of the house, and we'd like to have Pergo on the floor. the room has a door to the back yard, and we figure laminate is the most durable, comfortable compromise.

The builder doesn't think you can lay Pergo on concrete, and is pushing carpet. We don't want the maintenance burden of carpet next to an outside door. Tile would be too cold. All the web sources say if you put down a vapor barrier first, Pergo is OK. Anyone have experience with Pergo on concrete?
posted on Feb 14, 2005 - 14 answers

Can someone explain the red liquid spray patterns that appear on the asphalt of Southern California freeways? [more inside]
posted on Mar 26, 2004 - 6 answers

'Nother flooring question: Nurri and I want to Ardex the floors in our new place, for that clinical-industrial-minimalist look. Does anybody have any advice as to whether it's better to rip up the extant Pergo flooring and apply the Ardex to whatever substrate may be hanging out under there, or simply slap it on over the Pergo?
posted on Jan 9, 2004 - 8 answers