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Mix two parts masonry cement and one part sand, adding just enough water for a firm mortar mix. Apply the mortar to all sides of the block using the top of your trowel. Stagger the joints and place the open end of the block to the closed end of the next allowing 3/8 inch for mortar joint. Finally, check for level.

When laying new tile, here's an easy way to save some time before applying any mortar. Dry fit the tiles on the surface you are working with. Next, mark any pieces that will need to be cut. This will help determine how to get the best design and fit, and avoid the mess of pulling up tiles after the mortar is applied.

Here's a unique way to use small unmatched quantities of tile for an unusual countertop. Just break up the tiles into random pieces. Use thin-set mortar and create the pattern of your choice. Let the tiles set overnight, then use ceramic-grade grout with an additive to prevent wide joints from cracking. Let set for ten minutes and wipe with a dry synthetic pad. A wet pad would wash the joints out. When you're done you'll have an old-fashioned broken tile look.

Despite what we learned from the three little pigs, as they grow older, even the hardiest of brick buildings will require repair and restoration. The strict requirements of some historic districts have given way to lots of new tricks for dyeing and distressing new brick and mortar to closely resemble the older surrounding masonry.

Fireplaces are a nice feature in any home. Count Rumford fireplaces, known for their heat efficiency, are tall and shallow, reflecting heat back into the room. Constructed from firebricks and refractory mortar, they will tolerate very high temperatures. The distinctive throat connecting the firebox to the flue wastes less heated room air.

Glass block walls are a great design feature that let extra sunlight into any room in your home, while still providing a certain amount of privacy. The indiviudal blocks have a coating that is designed to bond with the mortar, which helps keep the wall waterproof. Be sure to hire a professional to do the job.

There are three important concepts to remember for wind-resistant wall construction. Walls have to resist the uplift forces caused by the pull of the wind. Walls have to resist the shear forces that try to push the walls over. Walls have to resist the lateral force of the wind that tries to push the walls in and pull them away from the building. For uplift purposes, walls are the intermediate link between the roof and the foundation below. To resist uplift forces walls have to have a continuous load path that can be achieved through the use of metal connectors for wood frame construction or a combination of metal connectors, vertical and horizontal reinforcement, and a bond beam at the top of the wall for concrete masonry construction. Shearing forces Walls are also subjected to shearing forces that act in the direction the wind is blowing. As wind blows on a wall, the walls perpendicular to the wall the wind is blowing on, are subjected to these shearing forces and are called shear walls. Shear walls are inherently subjected to the shearing and sliding forces. Wood frame walls resist these shearing and sliding forces through the action of the wall studs, the wall sheathing (preferably plywood), and a specific nailing pattern. Concrete masonry walls resist these forces through a combination of concrete masonry units, mortar, and grouted and reinforced cells. As a result of the walls resisting the shearing forces and being fixed at the base, the walls are subjected to an overturning force, or the tendency to rotate over. For wood frame construction, this force is resisted through the use of a holdown or tensions tied down. Vertical reinforcement and grouted cells resist the overturning forces in concrete masonry construction. Wind Ready Walls Finally, walls have to be capable of supporting the push and pull from the wind. For wood frame construction, studs have to be sized and spaced accordingly to resist the lateral forces, and have to be securely supported at the top and bottom plates. Concrete masonry resists the lateral forces by using reinforcement in grouted cells.