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♪♪

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Kevin:
On "Ask This Old House,"

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our experts travel
across the country

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to answer questions
about your house.

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♪♪

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Brooke: This is our bulkhead.

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As you can see, it's pretty
faded and a little unsightly.

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Kevin: Today, Mauro gives
a bulkhead a facelift

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with a fresh coat of paint.
Brooke: I love it.

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Kevin: Then, Tom shows
some of his favorite

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combination square hacks.

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And Mark helps
a homeowner straighten out

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his slanting steps.

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All that on
"Ask This Old House."

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♪♪

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Mauro: Hi, Brooke.
Brooke: Hi, Mauro.

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Nice to meet you.
Mauro: Nice to meet you.

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You wrote in for
some help with exterior paint?

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Brooke: Yeah, I have a project.

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It's right around
the side of the house.

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Should we go take a look?
Mauro: Let's take a look.

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Brooke: All right.
So, this is our bulkhead.

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As you can see, it's pretty
faded and a little unsightly.

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And we spend a lot of time
in the yard.

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Mauro: Yeah.
Brooke: So I was hoping

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to spruce it up a little bit.

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Hopefully it doesn't need to be
replaced, but what do you think?

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Mauro: Well, I don't think
you need to replace this door.

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I think we can make
this look really good.

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But I can see
some rust spot here,

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some here,
a large one here and there,

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and a little bit here.

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But, in general,
it looks pretty solid.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: All right?

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But we've got to do
some prep work here,

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taking care of this rusted spot.

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And we'll be ready
to prep and paint.

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Brooke: Okay.
Sounds good.

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Mauro:
But I'm also curious to see

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how the inside looks like
on those doors.

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Well, look at this.

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This is in much better shape
than the outside.

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And you still can see
the original color brown,

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but it needs to be cleaned up.

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Brooke: Okay.
That's good to know.

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Question for you.

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What color do you have in mind
for this bulkhead door?

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Brooke:
So I was thinking black

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because our house
is black and white.

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But what do you recommend?

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Mauro: Because we have
different shades of green

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in this backyard here,
it's beautiful.

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Brooke: Yeah.
Mauro: And I would not go black

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because you have enough black
already around the house.

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I would go on a darker color,

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with very much undertones
of green.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: Okay?

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If you look
from a distance out there,

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it's going to look --
you're going to read as a black,

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but when you get closer, you'll
see the undertone of green,

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which will fit pretty good
with what you have back here.

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Brooke: Yeah, I love that idea.
Mauro: All right.

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So we're gonna get some stuff,
you and I...

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: ...and we go to work.

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Brooke: All right, let's do it.

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♪♪

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Mauro: First step,
what we're gonna do

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with this orange tape here,

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we're going to be working
on this surface.

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So I don't want to put any paint
onto the vinyl.

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I got this.

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I'm gonna measure it right here.

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Brooke: All right.
How's that look?

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Mauro: That looks pretty sharp.

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Just press the tape.

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Just run your finger like this.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: Now what you're gonna do

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is you're gonna fold that
back to the front.

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Just like that.

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Now I'm going to do this side,

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and I want you to do it
the same way as you did here...

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: ...on the side there.

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Press it down.

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Make sure that paint
won't leak underneath the tape.

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All right.

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Now here's what
we're going to do.

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You got this tape,

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and we got the plastic
right here,

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right on top of the orange tape.

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Yeah.

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So, this is a good way
to protect.

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Now you want to fold
it back down.

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Keep opening it up.

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Good.

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Now, carefully, you're
gonna go like this.

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Brooke: Okay.

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Mauro: Okay.

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Tap it down.

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All right. Let's do the same
thing on that side.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: Go all the way down.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: Press the tape

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against the orange tape.
All right?

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Brooke: Okay.

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Mauro: Keep going.
Mm-hmm.

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All right. I'm gonna take care
on this side over here.

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Brooke: Okay.

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Mauro: This all
makes part of the preparation.

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We cover the siding
because you're not painting

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the siding.

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The ground
should be protected, too.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: All right?

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Try to get right under the tape.

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Yep. Right there.

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Okay. Let's gear up, and
we're gonna start to sand it.

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Brooke: Okay. Sounds good.
Mauro: All right.

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This is called a sanding block.
Just choose any grit.

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So that's how I go --
all the way down.

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You don't have to sand
down to bare metal,

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just enough to remove
any peeling paint or rust.

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If you didn't do this,

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any loose paint will
eventually flake off,

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taking the new paint with it.

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Brooke: So should I do a little
bit more on spots like this?

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Mauro: Yes. You see, like,
a little rough spot?

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We need to smooth that out.

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Just press it down a little bit

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and make sure that's
nice and smooth.

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You can feel it. All right?
Brooke: Okay.

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Yep.

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♪♪

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Mauro: It is important
to clean the dust from sanding

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before we paint, or
the paint won't adhere properly.

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♪♪

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There we go.
Nice, nice, nice.

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This is a metal primer.

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Brooke: Okay. So are we just
spraying the rust spots?

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Mauro: Correct.
And that will also help

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to prolong the life
of this paint job.

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Brooke: Okay. Sounds good.

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Mauro: Great.
That looks good.

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Well, what do you think so far,
Brooke?

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Brooke: It's looking better.

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Mauro: Well, you did
a great job with the primer.

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It's dry and lightly sanded.

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Now it's time for paint.

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The color we are using here
is called black forest green.

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Brooke: So, is this
a special type of paint?

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Mauro: Yes.
This is what we call DTM,

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which stands for
"direct to metal."

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: DTM paint

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will hold up well
in the elements.

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It will protect
against rust and corrosion

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better than regular paint.

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That looks very good.
Nice and even.

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Beautiful.

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♪♪

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Now, our first coat is dry.

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It's time to apply the final
and second coat.

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♪♪

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Here we go.
Brooke, what do you think?

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Brooke: I think
it looks so much better.

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Mauro: Looks better.
What about the color?

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Brooke: I love it. I think
it blends in really well.

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Mauro:
Oh, it came out really nice.

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So most important thing,

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keep this door
as clean as possible.

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Brooke: Okay.
Mauro: And then, if you see

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any spots
that you need to take care of,

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just lightly sand,
touch up with the paint,

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and it should be good to go.

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Brooke: All right.
Sounds easy enough.

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Mauro: I love this color.
I love the door.

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I love the way it turned out.

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So now we got a brand-new door.

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Brooke:
Thank you so much for your help.

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I really appreciate it.
Mauro: Thank you.

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Thanks for having me here.

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♪♪

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♪♪

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Kevin: Hey, Tommy.
Tom: Hey, Kevin. How are you?

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Kevin: All right.
Look at your collection of

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combination squares here.
Tom: Combination squares.

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Great little tool.

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I used to use it a lot more
than I use it today,

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but I still use it
in the shop a lot.

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Kevin: Okay. So, walk me through
the parts and pieces here.

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Tom: Well, combination square
comes in different sizes --

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6s, 12s, 18, and 24.

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It has a steel ruler,
obviously different size.

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The ruler
and the slide handle right here

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is 90 degrees and 45 degrees.

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Kevin:
And that slides back and forth,

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and you can lock it into place

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with a little thumbscrew
right there.

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And some of them even come
with a little bubble for level.

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Tom: Yep.
And for small things.

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Kevin: Yeah.
Tom: It also has a scribe in it,

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right there,
which is a real sharp point.

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Kevin: And you can mark
with that instead of a pencil.

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Tom: Can use it to scribe it
on a piece of metal,

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because a lot of metalworkers
use these, also,

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but it's a fine line
that you can follow.

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Kevin: So, how were you
using it, generally,

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or were using it back when that
was in your pouch every day?

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Tom: Well, I was using it
for framing, squaring lumber

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and 45 degrees.
But the problem with it was,

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framing is, that
the metal ruler would bend

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because it would be in my belt
or something,

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and you're climbing in and out
of rafters and stuff like that,

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so you bend them.

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So the long ones
were no good for me.

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But I would use them for
mitering and offsetting, also.

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So let's say I'm doing a casing,
a window casing,

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something like that.
Kevin: This is the jamb.

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Tom:
Yeah, that would be the jamb.

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I would set my depth

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that I'd want the offset for
the casing to be to the jamb,

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and let's say 3/8 of an inch.

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So I'd set my ruler on 3/8
of an inch, and I'd lock it in.

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Now that's not going to move.

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I would take a square,
and on this one,

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it has a little groove
right there

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the pencil will ride in,

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but it basically holds
the pencil in it.

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So now when I pull the square,

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it pulls the pencil
along with it.

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Kevin: Mm.
Tom: So now I have

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the distance that I want there.

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Same thing -- put the pencil
in the groove...

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Kevin: Right.

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00:09:01,666 --> 00:09:03,500
So you mark the jamb here.
Tom: Yeah.

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And then you just take
your casing...

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Kevin: Yeah.
Tom: ...put it on the jamb,

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00:09:07,566 --> 00:09:08,833
put it on the line,

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and your distance is
parallel with the edge.

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Perfectly all around the door
or the window,

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whatever the offset
I want it to be.

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Kevin:
And it's going to be the same

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not just on this jamb
but on every jamb,

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because you've got
this locked in...

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Tom: Right.
Kevin: ...and you just move

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from door, door, door,
window, window, window.

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Tom:
Yeah. So if I was doing a room

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with three windows and a door,

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I would set that and then go in
and do all my offsets first

246
00:09:30,666 --> 00:09:32,066
and then cut all my trim.

247
00:09:32,133 --> 00:09:34,000
Kevin: I have seen,
at least in the shop,

248
00:09:34,066 --> 00:09:36,200
I have seen them used
as depth guides.

249
00:09:36,266 --> 00:09:38,000
Tom: Oh, yeah, they're fantastic
for depth guides.

250
00:09:38,066 --> 00:09:41,133
So, let's say I want to do
a cabinet joint,

251
00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,200
and it's a dado
and a rabbet together.

252
00:09:44,266 --> 00:09:45,900
Kevin: Okay.
Tom: All right.

253
00:09:45,966 --> 00:09:47,900
And I want to check
the depth of that.

254
00:09:47,966 --> 00:09:50,833
You can just basically take
the square, loosen the nut,

255
00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:52,833
make sure it's sitting flat
on the wood,

256
00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:56,666
push it down, hold it down,
lock it.

257
00:09:56,733 --> 00:10:00,133
Now that's the depth of my dado.

258
00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,600
And I know that
my rabbet needs to match that.

259
00:10:03,666 --> 00:10:08,933
So I cut a rabbet and check the
size of that to see if it works.

260
00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,900
Put it together.

261
00:10:10,966 --> 00:10:14,133
I get a perfect rabbeted
dado cut that matches perfectly.

262
00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,166
Kevin: Very clever.
Okay. So, which one of these

263
00:10:16,233 --> 00:10:18,666
is not like the other?
Thumb screw on every one of them

264
00:10:18,733 --> 00:10:21,000
we've looked at so far.
No thumbscrew on this.

265
00:10:21,066 --> 00:10:23,466
Tom: Yeah.
Kevin: And yet look at that.

266
00:10:23,533 --> 00:10:26,300
So it stays rigid enough
that you can use it,

267
00:10:26,366 --> 00:10:27,866
but it easily adjusts.

268
00:10:27,933 --> 00:10:29,433
And that's
because of the magnets.

269
00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:31,866
Tom: And saved a little time.
Saves the turning of that nut,

270
00:10:31,933 --> 00:10:33,133
and it added up over time
during the day.

271
00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:34,566
I kind of like that.

272
00:10:34,633 --> 00:10:35,966
I've never seen one
like that before.

273
00:10:36,033 --> 00:10:38,033
Kevin: Really? You like it,
and you've never seen it,

274
00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:40,266
which means this is the last
time I'm gonna see it.

275
00:10:40,333 --> 00:10:41,466
Tom:
You might have a point there.

276
00:10:41,533 --> 00:10:43,766
Kevin: That's gonna walk off.
Tom: Yeah.

277
00:10:43,833 --> 00:10:46,466
Kevin: If I drop mine,
is it toast,

278
00:10:46,533 --> 00:10:47,933
or can I adjust it, or...?

279
00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,433
Tom: This is where paying
the right price in the beginning

280
00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:52,266
can save you money
in the long run,

281
00:10:52,333 --> 00:10:54,166
because it will stay truer.

282
00:10:54,233 --> 00:10:55,300
So, take this one right here.
Pick that up.

283
00:10:55,366 --> 00:10:56,566
Kevin: Okay.

284
00:10:56,633 --> 00:10:58,200
Tom: Now take this one
and hold that one.

285
00:10:58,266 --> 00:10:59,800
Kevin: Oh, yeah.
This feels like twice as heavy.

286
00:10:59,866 --> 00:11:01,100
Tom: Yeah. Night and day.
Kevin: Higher quality here.

287
00:11:01,166 --> 00:11:02,566
Yeah.
Tom: Big difference.

288
00:11:02,633 --> 00:11:05,000
So quality -- you'll get your
money back when you buy quality.

289
00:11:05,066 --> 00:11:06,733
So let's take a regular
piece of wood,

290
00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,466
and we'll check the square
to see if it's out of square.

291
00:11:10,533 --> 00:11:11,833
Kevin: Okay.
Tom: All right.

292
00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:14,000
So, all you do is,
like, any square,

293
00:11:14,066 --> 00:11:16,400
you would take it
and put it on the wood,

294
00:11:16,466 --> 00:11:18,400
and you'd hold it firm,

295
00:11:18,466 --> 00:11:22,000
draw a line,
flip the square over...

296
00:11:22,066 --> 00:11:23,433
Kevin: Mm-hmm.

297
00:11:23,500 --> 00:11:28,366
Tom: I got to line this end up
right there with the line.

298
00:11:28,433 --> 00:11:29,900
Run my line.

299
00:11:29,966 --> 00:11:31,700
All right.
Now you see that?

300
00:11:31,766 --> 00:11:35,266
So that tells me that this
square is off just a little bit.

301
00:11:35,333 --> 00:11:36,500
Kevin: Right.
So this one's got to

302
00:11:36,566 --> 00:11:38,600
either be adjusted or go away.

303
00:11:38,666 --> 00:11:40,133
Tom: Right.
Kevin: Perfect. All right.

304
00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:41,933
Well, good information, Tommy.
Appreciate it.

305
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,366
Tom: My pleasure.
Kevin: Here you go.

306
00:11:43,433 --> 00:11:45,400
[ Both laugh ]

307
00:11:45,466 --> 00:11:52,266
♪♪

308
00:11:52,333 --> 00:11:53,700
Tom: You must be Mark.
Mark: Yes.

309
00:11:53,766 --> 00:11:55,800
Tom: Hi. I'm Tom.
Mark: Hey, Tom. How you doing?

310
00:11:55,866 --> 00:11:57,266
Tom: Well, I'm doing all right,

311
00:11:57,333 --> 00:11:58,633
but I'm feeling better
now that you're here.

312
00:11:58,700 --> 00:12:00,066
Mark: All right.
Well, great.

313
00:12:00,133 --> 00:12:01,833
Tom: Can I tell you
a little bit about these steps?

314
00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:04,200
Mark: Sure.
Tom: So, you know, first off,

315
00:12:04,266 --> 00:12:05,533
we've got this great home,
great neighborhood.

316
00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:06,766
Mark: Looks nice.

317
00:12:06,833 --> 00:12:08,400
Tom: And I actually
really love these stairs.

318
00:12:08,466 --> 00:12:10,300
I think I've been here
now 12 years.

319
00:12:10,366 --> 00:12:11,566
Mark: Okay.
Tom: I do my best

320
00:12:11,633 --> 00:12:14,100
to take care of them,
did a little repointing.

321
00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:15,866
Learned a little bit
here and there.

322
00:12:15,933 --> 00:12:17,966
But something's happening
on this tread.

323
00:12:18,033 --> 00:12:19,866
That's when I thought,
"Ah, I'm over my skis.

324
00:12:19,933 --> 00:12:21,300
I need a little bit more help."

325
00:12:21,366 --> 00:12:23,300
Mark: All right.
Well, first of all,

326
00:12:23,366 --> 00:12:25,500
I think you did a great job
keeping these steps intact.

327
00:12:25,566 --> 00:12:28,400
And what we want to do is figure
out why we do have the problem.

328
00:12:28,466 --> 00:12:31,933
So the first thing I looked at
is, you can see these treads.

329
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,633
You can see the face
of these treads,

330
00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:34,766
how they have debris and dirt
on them.

331
00:12:34,833 --> 00:12:36,033
Tom: Yeah.
Mark: Okay.

332
00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:37,900
That's actually a good sign

333
00:12:37,966 --> 00:12:40,200
because that means
the treads are tipped properly

334
00:12:40,266 --> 00:12:42,566
and the water is running down
the steps.

335
00:12:42,633 --> 00:12:44,033
When we get to
the problem tread,

336
00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:45,433
you can see...
Tom: It's nice and clean

337
00:12:45,500 --> 00:12:47,433
right here on the face.
Mark: So that means water

338
00:12:47,500 --> 00:12:49,433
is not running off.
Tom: Going the wrong way.

339
00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:51,900
Mark: And, also, I know we had
rain a couple days ago.

340
00:12:51,966 --> 00:12:54,566
I can still see remnants
of a puddle right there.

341
00:12:54,633 --> 00:12:57,333
Indicates to me that everything
is being pitched back.

342
00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,000
One of the problems is that

343
00:12:59,066 --> 00:13:00,866
you'll develop
a crack in the back.

344
00:13:00,933 --> 00:13:02,700
Once you get water
behind that crack,

345
00:13:02,766 --> 00:13:04,866
in certain type of weather,
like winter,

346
00:13:04,933 --> 00:13:07,033
we experience the
freeze-thaw situation,

347
00:13:07,100 --> 00:13:10,000
and that's what's pulling
this tread towards the walkway.

348
00:13:10,066 --> 00:13:11,900
And if you step over here, Tom,

349
00:13:11,966 --> 00:13:15,266
you can actually see the pitch
of the stone going backwards.

350
00:13:15,333 --> 00:13:17,066
And if you follow this,

351
00:13:17,133 --> 00:13:19,066
you can see the damage
created by the water.

352
00:13:19,133 --> 00:13:21,600
When the ice gets behind it,
it pushes it out.

353
00:13:21,666 --> 00:13:23,233
It takes the brick with it.

354
00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:24,900
What we're gonna have to do
is remove that tread

355
00:13:24,966 --> 00:13:26,400
and really find out
what's going on.

356
00:13:26,466 --> 00:13:27,533
Tom:
Can I ask you one more thing?

357
00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:28,800
Mark: Sure.
Tom: Something else that's

358
00:13:28,866 --> 00:13:30,933
kind of been worrying me
is these railings.

359
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,100
Are we in trouble here with
these railings and the stairs,

360
00:13:33,166 --> 00:13:34,466
or is that going to be okay?

361
00:13:34,533 --> 00:13:36,100
Mark: So, great question.

362
00:13:36,166 --> 00:13:38,300
If you look at this railing...

363
00:13:38,366 --> 00:13:40,000
Okay. That's really stuck
into the ground.

364
00:13:40,066 --> 00:13:42,133
It's really stuck into
the granite up there, as well,

365
00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,333
so that's a plus.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

366
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:46,700
Tom: Nice.
Mark: All right?

367
00:13:46,766 --> 00:13:47,833
Tom:
Well, how do we get started?

368
00:13:47,900 --> 00:13:49,333
Mark: So, why don't you
jump over there.

369
00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,166
Tom: All right.
Mark: I'll jump over here.

370
00:13:51,233 --> 00:13:54,666
And we're just going to try
to tip it forward.

371
00:13:54,733 --> 00:13:57,733
Okay. Now bring it to me.

372
00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,633
Okay.
Just as I suspected.

373
00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:04,433
Some of these brick want to come
with us, but that's fine.

374
00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:07,533
So now just twist out
and pull back.

375
00:14:09,733 --> 00:14:11,800
Keep going.

376
00:14:15,333 --> 00:14:17,766
All right. We ended up
taking some brick with us.

377
00:14:17,833 --> 00:14:20,533
Tom: That's all right.
Mark: Bend your knees.

378
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,733
And then just flip it up.

379
00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,100
All right.
Hey, Tom, look at this.

380
00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:31,400
Tom: Wow.

381
00:14:31,466 --> 00:14:33,833
Mark:
So, this is all water damage.

382
00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:36,800
Mortar is supposed
to get very hard as it sets up,

383
00:14:36,866 --> 00:14:39,400
but when you have moisture
damage like we have here,

384
00:14:39,466 --> 00:14:40,900
this is what happens.

385
00:14:40,966 --> 00:14:43,300
First off, we want to get
all this loose material out.

386
00:14:43,366 --> 00:14:44,933
Tom: Okay.
Mark: So, usually,

387
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,433
these mortar beds
should come out in pieces.

388
00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,500
Tom: You mean it's not supposed
to be like play sand?

389
00:14:49,566 --> 00:14:51,566
Mark: Yeah.
We're taking it out as dust.

390
00:14:51,633 --> 00:14:55,366
Yep. Just go right back
to the bucket with it.

391
00:14:55,433 --> 00:14:56,566
Tom: Got it.

392
00:15:02,233 --> 00:15:05,200
Mark: So, I'm getting down
to some solid stuff.

393
00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:13,000
But look at this, Tom.
I found a broken brick.

394
00:15:13,066 --> 00:15:15,300
Tom: Oh, it just crumbled. Wow.
Mark: So just crumbling.

395
00:15:15,366 --> 00:15:19,566
And, again, this is more classic
masonry water damage.

396
00:15:19,633 --> 00:15:21,866
This is what happens to bricks.

397
00:15:25,433 --> 00:15:27,966
You can see remnants
of the joint up here.

398
00:15:28,033 --> 00:15:31,666
We're going to have to take
that stuff out.

399
00:15:31,733 --> 00:15:35,500
Sometimes I like to use the back
of my brick hammer as a chisel.

400
00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:39,800
Look at all this extra stuff
I just pulled.

401
00:15:39,866 --> 00:15:41,633
Tom: Yeah. Wow.

402
00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:43,266
So you just keep going
until it won't come anymore?

403
00:15:43,333 --> 00:15:45,666
Mark: Until we get
solid, solid, solid.

404
00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:49,866
Another thing
we want to make sure we do

405
00:15:49,933 --> 00:15:52,766
is test all these brick,
just a pull test,

406
00:15:52,833 --> 00:15:54,600
and make sure they're solid.

407
00:15:54,666 --> 00:15:56,933
Tom: Yep. You feel really good.
Mark: All right.

408
00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:58,966
Now that we have the tread out

409
00:15:59,033 --> 00:16:01,433
and we have it basically cleaned
up, I'm looking at this joint.

410
00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:03,333
You can see it's no good. Right?
Tom: Yep.

411
00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,300
Mark: And it goes all the way to
here, and then it gets good.

412
00:16:06,366 --> 00:16:08,833
So, if you want to take
this chisel

413
00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:11,066
and start hitting down on it,

414
00:16:11,133 --> 00:16:13,700
you'll see
that it comes out pretty easily.

415
00:16:13,766 --> 00:16:15,966
There you go.

416
00:16:16,033 --> 00:16:17,600
And don't forget we have to go

417
00:16:17,666 --> 00:16:20,000
at least 3/4 of an inch deep.

418
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:27,500
Okay, this happens sometimes.

419
00:16:27,566 --> 00:16:29,300
The joint has switched on us.

420
00:16:29,366 --> 00:16:31,300
This is a lot harder
on this end,

421
00:16:31,366 --> 00:16:34,433
so I think we're going to switch
to a HEPA vac and a grinder.

422
00:16:39,466 --> 00:16:41,733
So, now we're ready
for repointing.

423
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,633
You have to get the mortar
all the way back

424
00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:45,566
to make contact
with the existing mortar.

425
00:16:45,633 --> 00:16:49,400
So don't be afraid to push it
in as hard as you can.

426
00:16:49,466 --> 00:16:51,233
Tom: Now, how do I know
if I'm all the way back?

427
00:16:51,300 --> 00:16:54,866
Mark: Because it starts to pooge
out just the way it is.

428
00:16:54,933 --> 00:16:56,566
Tom: And I think this is
probably a good time to do this.

429
00:16:56,633 --> 00:16:58,200
It's okay
if I make a mess down here.

430
00:16:58,266 --> 00:17:00,400
Mark: That's right.
We're gonna clean up.

431
00:17:00,466 --> 00:17:02,700
All right, Tom, I'm gonna
show you a little trick.

432
00:17:02,766 --> 00:17:04,100
Tom: All right.

433
00:17:04,166 --> 00:17:05,533
Mark: Sometimes
when you get to these corners,

434
00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,333
the mortar wants to fall out.

435
00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:08,800
That trowel up there
against that,

436
00:17:08,866 --> 00:17:11,400
you have something to go to now.

437
00:17:11,466 --> 00:17:14,600
All right, so, Tom,
I like to wait

438
00:17:14,666 --> 00:17:16,800
until I can see
my fingerprint on that mortar.

439
00:17:16,866 --> 00:17:18,633
That means it's good to go.

440
00:17:18,700 --> 00:17:21,833
But right now, we're
going to put what we call

441
00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:24,966
a concave bevel joint.

442
00:17:25,033 --> 00:17:27,333
And you can see
that this joint now matches all

443
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,366
the other joints.

444
00:17:29,433 --> 00:17:31,866
We want to make sure we ride
the heel and just feel it out,

445
00:17:31,933 --> 00:17:34,833
but we want to make
sure it stays even.

446
00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:36,433
So you don't want to go
too deep,

447
00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:38,866
but you don't want to be
too shallow.

448
00:17:38,933 --> 00:17:40,700
Excellent, excellent.

449
00:17:40,766 --> 00:17:42,933
Okay, I think we're ready
to brush the front.

450
00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,733
Tom: Kind of knock
down the high stuff here?

451
00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,100
Mark: Just knock down
the high stuff.

452
00:17:46,166 --> 00:17:48,600
Some of that stuff
we call snots.

453
00:17:48,666 --> 00:17:50,466
That's great.

454
00:17:50,533 --> 00:17:53,100
You can see that we had
a little overrun on the mortar.

455
00:17:53,166 --> 00:17:56,833
The only way that's going
to go away is if we sponge it.

456
00:17:56,900 --> 00:17:59,300
Now, one thing
I want you to notice

457
00:17:59,366 --> 00:18:03,233
is I'm not hitting
the masonry joint itself.

458
00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:05,233
So all we want to make
sure we do

459
00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:08,666
is stay on
the edge of the brick.

460
00:18:08,733 --> 00:18:10,066
We're gonna take this joiner

461
00:18:10,133 --> 00:18:12,200
and we're going to do
what we call a slick.

462
00:18:12,266 --> 00:18:13,966
See that slick right there?

463
00:18:14,033 --> 00:18:16,266
When we do that slick
it actually waterproofs

464
00:18:16,333 --> 00:18:17,433
that mortar joint.

465
00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:21,366
♪♪

466
00:18:21,433 --> 00:18:25,133
Because this mortar is old,
we're gonna want to wet it down.

467
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,500
That way, it won't suck
the water out of the mortar

468
00:18:27,566 --> 00:18:29,066
that we put the tread on.

469
00:18:29,133 --> 00:18:31,033
Now we're ready
to lay some brick.

470
00:18:59,100 --> 00:19:00,566
Level.

471
00:19:05,733 --> 00:19:09,100
And now joints are perfect.

472
00:19:18,366 --> 00:19:24,133
And, again, I'm gonna --
I'm gonna joint...

473
00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:25,466
now...

474
00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:30,466
because it's gonna be
easier for me.

475
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,466
Tom: So, can I work towards you
while you work towards me?

476
00:19:45,533 --> 00:19:47,400
Mark: You can.

477
00:19:56,866 --> 00:19:58,833
Tom: All right.

478
00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:00,600
Mark: So, now it's time
for the tread,

479
00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:03,366
but before that,
we got to put a mortar bed down.

480
00:20:03,433 --> 00:20:06,733
And don't forget,
our original problem was pitch.

481
00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,666
Give you a little toss
right there.

482
00:20:11,166 --> 00:20:12,600
Time for the tread.

483
00:20:14,766 --> 00:20:17,500
Granite doesn't bond that
well to other masonry products,

484
00:20:17,566 --> 00:20:21,400
so what a lot of masons do is
they'll use what we call a glue.

485
00:20:21,466 --> 00:20:23,900
It's Portland cement and water.

486
00:20:23,966 --> 00:20:26,533
All it needs to be
is just a coating.

487
00:20:28,966 --> 00:20:30,066
And again,
I want to make sure

488
00:20:30,133 --> 00:20:33,166
I get all the nooks
and crannies.

489
00:20:33,233 --> 00:20:35,233
Tom: Little more?

490
00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:37,666
Mark: I'll take a dab.

491
00:20:37,733 --> 00:20:41,366
Yep.
Right where I wanted it.

492
00:20:41,433 --> 00:20:45,566
Tom: Okay.
Mark: I'm gonna hit this blob.

493
00:20:45,633 --> 00:20:48,566
Go right down.
Great.

494
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,666
Just help me wiggle it
a little, Tom.

495
00:20:55,733 --> 00:20:57,766
Tom: Are you pushing down
as you wiggle or just wiggle?

496
00:20:57,833 --> 00:21:01,400
Mark:
I'm pushing down as I wiggle.

497
00:21:01,466 --> 00:21:03,566
And I'm pushing down
on the front side.

498
00:21:09,900 --> 00:21:11,333
Okay.
There's my quarter bubble.

499
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,600
Make sure you have the same.

500
00:21:14,666 --> 00:21:15,800
Tom: I have a quarter bubble.

501
00:21:15,866 --> 00:21:17,866
Mark: Yeah, great.
Okay.

502
00:21:17,933 --> 00:21:22,433
Couple things we have to check
is the overhangs.

503
00:21:22,500 --> 00:21:24,866
This is a 2-inch.

504
00:21:24,933 --> 00:21:28,900
2's gotta go that way to you.

505
00:21:28,966 --> 00:21:30,033
See what you have.

506
00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:33,766
Just match it to
the step above it.

507
00:21:33,833 --> 00:21:37,233
Tom: I've got like 2 1/4.

508
00:21:37,300 --> 00:21:39,666
I have -- yeah, 2 and --
Just about 2 3/8 there.

509
00:21:39,733 --> 00:21:42,333
Mark: Okay, great.

510
00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,966
We left this joint open
on purpose,

511
00:21:45,033 --> 00:21:46,933
but we want to close it in.

512
00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,366
So what we're going to do
is take those flat joiners.

513
00:21:49,433 --> 00:21:52,433
And we're really, really
gonna pack this entire joint.

514
00:21:52,500 --> 00:21:53,633
Tom: All right.

515
00:21:59,900 --> 00:22:01,566
Mark: All right, Tom,
what do you think?

516
00:22:01,633 --> 00:22:03,533
Tom: Oh, I love it.
It's -- It looks great,

517
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,000
and it feels good to know
that it's a step again

518
00:22:05,066 --> 00:22:07,733
and it's pitched the right way,
and it's gonna shed the water.

519
00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:09,066
Mark: Great. Well,
I'm gonna leave you

520
00:22:09,133 --> 00:22:10,300
with a little bit of homework.

521
00:22:10,366 --> 00:22:12,300
Wait 28 days for this to cure.

522
00:22:12,366 --> 00:22:14,433
After that,
get a power washer out here.

523
00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:16,500
Clean up some
of this green mossy stuff,

524
00:22:16,566 --> 00:22:19,233
a little bit of that rust.
You'll be good to go.

525
00:22:19,300 --> 00:22:20,533
Tom: Well, thank you very much.

526
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,333
Mark: All right.
Tom: Yeah.

527
00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,600
Mark: So, if you have questions,
we'd love to hear from you,

528
00:22:24,666 --> 00:22:26,200
so keep them coming.

529
00:22:26,266 --> 00:22:28,333
Until next time,
I'm Mark McCullough

530
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,266
for "Ask This Old House."

531
00:22:30,333 --> 00:22:35,266
♪♪

532
00:22:35,333 --> 00:22:39,166
♪♪

533
00:22:41,866 --> 00:22:44,933
Kevin: Next time
on "Ask This Old House"...

534
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:49,733
Nathan helps a homeowner install
a recessed bathroom cabinet.

535
00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:54,366
Then, Mark replaces
a homeowner's chimney crown.

536
00:22:54,433 --> 00:22:57,133
Man: That looks beautiful.

537
00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,633
Kevin: And Mark also shares
a few treasures

538
00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:01,233
he's found over the years.

539
00:23:01,300 --> 00:23:02,600
Oh, there's a note inside.

540
00:23:02,666 --> 00:23:04,433
Mark: There is, yes.
Kevin: Did you read it?

541
00:23:04,500 --> 00:23:07,100
Mark: I had to.
I couldn't resist.

542
00:23:07,166 --> 00:23:10,666
Kevin: All that
on "Ask This Old House."