Expansion joints are created through the installation of a soft material, such as wood or foam, along the edges of concrete slabs. The flexibility of these soft materials prevents damage that would ...

Concrete is one of the most user-friendly building materials around. It’s durable and inexpensive, yet can be made amazingly attractive with today’s new concrete finishes. Learn how to pour a concrete ...

Dear James: We plan to add a half-bathroom, but our house is built on a slab. Is it possible to still add a bathroom there, because there is no drain to the sewer in that spot? -- Charlotte G. Dear ...

The concrete slab can be thought of as the wearing cap for the building pad and base course. A well compacted and smooth subgrade is critical to a successful slab. Slab formwork, jointing details, ...

DEAR TIM: My new home is under construction. I’m in a disagreement with my builder about what’s going to happen under my garage slab. Right now there’s a trench around the inside on all four walls ...

Q. My concrete driveway has eight large slabs. The driveway slopes down from my garage to the street. The straight-line gaps between the slabs has enlarged, and some cracks are as wide as 2 inches now ...

Q: Our house has an unusual chimney made with irregular stones. The existing cap is in poor shape. What’s the best way to install a cap on a masonry chimney? A: The chimney cap I’d build would be a ...

Lowe Larretta is former lead editor for Forbes Home, covering all things related to home improvement and good design. She previously worked in the decor and lifestyle spaces for digital publishers ...