Pros and Cons of Masonry Glue

Masonry glue, also known as brick glue, masonry adhesive, construction adhesive, and landscape block adhesive, refers to a class of chemical adhesives that can often take the place of mortar in masonry construction applications.  Masonry glue is particularly useful in non -sag wall installations of exterior or interior thin brick, masonry veneer, stone, tile, and adherence of caps to masonry walls. ("Non-sag" means that a compound exhibits little or no flow when applied in vertical or inverted joints. In other words, if you are applying masonry glue to a vertical wall, it won't run down the wall.) 

Masonry glue has certain limitations. It is most useful in applications where structural integrity is not important, i.e. applying a veneer or reattaching a piece of brick or stone that has fallen down. So, for example, a mason or DIY home repairman should consult manufacturer specifications before using masonry glue in structures taller than three feet (where the compression weight begins to increase dramatically). Likewise, masonry glue can be used to hold concrete or stone products together, as in a stone walkway; however, should probably not be used in high traffic areas. Masonry glue products are often non-effective when used to adhere chemically treated wood products to a masonry face. In all such instances the manufacturer's specifications should be consulted. Landscaping glue is also not effective as a leveling agent; mortar should be used for such purposes.  

Keeping these limitations in mind, brick glue has many advantages over mortar.  Masonry glues are quick and easy to apply. They are consistent (mixed in a lab not in the field). They have reduced cleanup time, reduced labor costs, ease of transportation, no mixing (for one part adhesives), and they reach full strength in hours, not days as with mortar.  

In short, masonry glue is an effective and convenient substitute for mortar in many masonry applications, but when using the product, you should be mindful of its limitations.  

Resources: For the best in outdoor and landscape masonry in Westchester County and Putnam County, NY., call the Turf Barbers at 914 302 2469; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; http://www.theturfbarbers.com for the tops in landscape masonry and outdoor masonry.

How to Make a Water Feature Interesting

When you're placing water features on your landscape, you will do well to employ concepts used in creating the intriguing man made Lake Harris at the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas. You don't have to go out to Las Vegas to see Lake Harris. You can search for 3356 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas on Google and then click on street view. Then take a virtual walk in a southerly direction along the sidewalk on the west side.
 
As you take the walk, you will notice that almost no section of the lake resembles another. I say almost because the landscapers have even employed the principle that sections of symmetry appearing in a random fashion (unpredictable predictability) add interest to a landscape. Lake Harris changes in  size, shape, and border on both the sides close to and far away from the pedestrians. In some places there are waterfalls that fed the lake, in others flat tropical like vegetation. On some borders there are trees, on others a small or large rock outcropping made of conjoined stone of unpredictable shapes and sizes. On one part of the far bank, there is a large uninhabited rain forest, with tropical ground cover,  bushes, and trees of various heights, shapes and species. The many waterfalls vary one from another, with falls that have three, four, five levels, or seven levels. There are narrow ribbon falls, horseshoe shaped falls that separate one section of the lake from another, and a wide semi circular falls, with intriguing rock outcroppings scattered in its lower five levels.

 When you're planning to install water features in your own backyard, consider adding variety to your lagoons, streams, and waterfalls, and their borders. You might also want to employ variety in the size shape, species, and height of your surrounding vegetation.

Resources: If you live in the Yorktown Heights, NY, Westchester County, or Putnam County area of New York State, call the Turf Barbers at 914 302 2469; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; http://www.theturfbarbers.com for the tops in water feature landscaping and outdoor masonry.

Christmas Fireplace Mystery.

"Will I still get presents?" Joey queried his Dad with an absolutely appealing childish voice full of wonder. He was gazing out the French doors that opened onto their backyard patio. His light brown hair looped around his forehead and his innocent blue eyes peered up at the tall kindly man, with the giant hands and  knowing look, standing to his right.

Joey's second grade class had been studying geography and Joey learned that nothing stood at the North Pole but a mass of shifting sea ice. There was no Santa Claus, he had concluded. It was a made up story and the gift's and tree were all placed there by his parents. 

"There" was next to the outdoor fireplace that stood at the far end of the backyard patio. The Turf Barbers had installed the fireplace two and a half years ago. Santa, AKA Dad, had mysteriously begun leaving the tree and gifts in front of the fireplace, and he explained that it was probably easier for Santa to leave everything there than to carry it down the chimney. When it snowed, real snow, instead of fake silver glitter, decorated the stately, holiday pine. 

"Will you still leave a glass of milk and plate of delicious cookies by the fireplace?" asked Dad. 

"If I'm getting toys, you're getting the milk and cookies," replied Joey.

"It's a deal," his Dad responded.  

The plate of cookies was set out; the toys came; and, as past years, the tree was left out until after New Year's Day. It had snowed twice between Christmas and New Year, and when Joey's father finally took the conifer down, a thick bed of shimmering white was all that remained of their recent holiday festivities.  

To install a professional patio and fireplace in the Yorktown Heights, Westchester County and Putnam County, NY area, call the Turf Barbers at (914)302-2469, or visit their website at http://www.theturfbarbers.com/Masonry.php.

Winter Masonry

Wintertime, the night air is vibrantly crisp, and a dull white expanse of snow spreads out beneath punctuate bright stars scattered across the Heavens. This is an opportune time to sit with your family on the backyard stone patio, relax and brown marshmallows over a toasty fire brightly dancing in the outdoor chimney or fire pit.  This is a seasonal experience you don't want to miss, so contact your landscape mason ahead of time, before the first winter snows covers the last traces of green in the outdoor ground cover.  

Go over a checklist of to-dos with your contractor. Be certain your chimney and or fire-pit are clean and in good working order, fix any cracks in your patio's stone work. Enhance your backyard visual effects by trimming all summer blooming bushes (after their leaves turn), and installing outdoor lighting to give visitors the best night view of your yard's features.  Add color to your otherwise drab winterscape by putting in winter plants such as lenten roses, colored-twig dogwoods, or winter foliage conifers.     

If the snow days are still a bit off, you might be able to complete a last minute masonry project. With modern heating technology, outdoor construction companies can work all year around in most locations. Cement loses its hydration when temperatures drop below 40 degrees, but the modern mason is fully prepared to implement sophisticated winter procedures.

Outdoor builders employ a variety of techniques to keep their workers and the cement warm. This may include warming the mortar in an outdoor enclosure or enclosing the whole construction area in poly-draped work areas. Powerful propane heaters generate warm air that can be pumped throughout the site. Masons adapt cement to winter conditions by using bulk delivered dry, unfrozen ingredients, which are mixed with pre-warmed water. Type III, quick drying cement, increases the available heat.  Instead of traditional straw, stone-workers use insulating blankets, electric blankets, or heat lamps to retain the heat of cement hydration for extended periods.

Take advantage of all that your outdoor landscape and masonry can offer you to enjoy this year's winter's beauty!  

For the best in winter masonry contact the Turf Barbers. 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; +1 914-302-2469; http://www.trufbarbers.com   

Fall Landscaping Tips

Landscaping Yorktown Heights, NY

Fall is an ideal time for landscaping. Want to make hardscape changes? You can replace paving, make raised beds, re-shape, re-lay out, make paths, build retaining walls, removing unwanted plants. Fall is also a good time for pool and paver installation.

When it comes to softscape landscaping, fall is the time to enjoy your garden and enjoy the fall colors. Maintenance gardening will allow to make the most of the fruits of hard work throughout the spring and summer.   Important fall landscape activities include pulling off dead flowers, trimming bushes.  Fall is a time to tidy up your camellias by removing spent blossoms, and picking up fallen one. Pick off dead flowers from rhododendrons and azaleas, which are at their peak in the fall. 

Fall is a good time for adding many plants and trees, because they have time to develop hardy root systems that will get them through the winter and ready to go next spring. Fall id also a good time to reflect on new landscape changes. You can get great ideas by attending flower shows, open gardens, and visiting garden shops. You can add style to your landscape by sharpening edges of your lawn and flow bed. You can create focal points of interest by adding a circular bed, outdoor artwork, or interesting borders of wood.  

Finally, you can consult with your landscaper. After thoroughly enjoying your home's softscape, which you worked so hard to create and nurture throughout the spring and summer, use the late fall to sit down and plan changes to your overall landscape design.  Agree on major design changes with your landscaper, make a down payment, make a start on the project if there's time, and the work will have top priority when landscaping begins anew in the spring.

For expert landscaping in the Westchester and Putnam County areas, contract the Turf Barbers. 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; +1 914-302-2469; http://www.trufbarbers.com  

When is the Best Time to Hire a Landscaper?

Fall is the best time to hire a landscaping company! In the fall work slows down and landscapers are hungry for business. This means prices drop and availability rises. In the spring and summer, you must book ahead to schedule a landscaper, but in the fall you can get service almost immediately. You can count on the highest quality work as landscapers are not pressured to finish the job so they can get on to the next assignment.

Conveniently, the fall is the best time for planting trees and grass; planting spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocus; and putting in perennials in a timely fashion so that they will make a big spring time show. 

Best of all, landscapers are hungry for assignments that take them through to the winter shutdown.  And that works out great for customers, because scheduling is easier in the fall, and if the work shuts down due to cold weather and snow, it will start up again with top priority in the spring. (And here's a little tip. Pay your landscaper a good chunk of the fee in the fall. Don't stint, because fall work, such as edging, aerating, and planting are important and time consuming. At the same time, save part of the fee for the spring. This will be an incentive for the landscaper to return early and finish the work that didn't get completed in the late fall.) So even though its getting towards late fall, and you're not sure how much longer your landscaper can work, put in your bid now. Agree on the work and make a down payment and you're sure to get top priority in the early spring, when the ground thaws and the weather starts to warm, signaling that it's time for landscaping to resume.

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For top notch landscaping in Yorktown Heights, NY, Westchester County and Putnam County, contract the Turf Barbers. 929 Quinlan St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, United States; +1 914-302-2469; http://www.trufbarbers.com