Real fieldstone chimney restore rebuild How to fix DIY for beginners

DIRT BOSS MERCH STORE !
teespring.com/stores/dirt-boss
Real fieldstone chimney restore rebuild How to fix DIY for beginners We are rebuilding or repairing a real stone fireplace that is over 100 years old! Being a 3rd generation Mason this brings me back to my roots! All we did 25 years ago was stone work..You dont see this type of new construction anymore..its definitely a dying breed. Hello my name is Mike and I'm the owner operator at TCM & Excavating also known as Dirt Boss please leave a comment and tell me what you think!
Real fieldstone chimney restore rebuild How to fix DIY for beginners
#stonework #excavate #masonryrepair
Tri-County Excavating
My Equipment:
KOBELCO SK160-6E
KUBOTA SVL 90-2
KOMATSU D51 PX22
KOMATSU PC88 MR-8
JOHN DEERE 310G
BOMAG 172-2
BOMAG BW900-2
HYDREMA 912
MF 35
BIG TEX 7 TON
DYNAWELD 20 TON
KENWORTH T-800
GMC W4500
RAM 3500
TRI-COUNTY EXCAVATING

[@stuartfarrell6729]

with this one video you educated me greatly on stone work thank you now to takale my field stone foundation repoint job

[@terryolson7190]

Would like to see more of the metal rod install, overall great how to video

[@Ajcruz913]

As a woman (using my husbands account) I find this video very helpful, thank you. About 8 rocks on the very tip of our chimney fell down before we bought this house and I cant afford to pay someone right now to put them back, so I will do it myself lol. Thanks again.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

You're welcome Mrs Andy! Good luck!

[@lillieberger2883]

How did it go? Our 60+ yo cabin’s stone fireplace is in disrepair and I can’t find anyone to fix it. I’m going to do the best I can.

[@DH-hz5qw]

Awesome video 😊

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks

[@jamesdoherty5093]

Stone masonry, a lost art, awesome job 👍

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thank you kindly

[@jamesdoherty5093]

Logger Wade with the dull chainsaw 🤣🤣

[@DIRT-BOSS]

@@jamesdoherty5093 lol you are the only one that caught that!! Too funny

[@1man1woman65]

Mike, love to hear stories about your dad. I know you miss him dearly as I miss my dad also so feel free to mention him every now and then. It seems like you and I learned so much from our fathers. Your son will learn from you, it's the little things we remember for our entire lives. Take care, Stanley in Md.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Stan thanks brother 👍

[@Creative-Chaos]

I had a house inspection done today and they commented on the masonry of the chimney. I had no idea what to expect. I'm glad I watched this video today. As least when I call someone tomorrow, I will have an idea of the type of work needed. Great video.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Awesome good luck!

[@mrandrewdennis1]

Your dad seems to have a great influence on you and your work ethic. Thank you you for sharing!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Dennis Yes he did.

[@hithere121]

It was a beautiful job done and lovely words of appreciation for your father.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Hey thanks so much

[@ronammologist16]

Nicely done! I'd be proud to pay the bill for that!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks

[@mmanut]

Tough repair, definitely did the best you could without taking the entire chimney down. Nice Job. Vinny 🇺🇸

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Vinny!

[@yenerm114]

That’s a very good tip on the scaffolding👍👍👌 I’ve watched a lot of people struggle doing it the opposite way

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks buddy

[@coreyr4323]

I like this dude. Nice approach and the work looks good.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks man I appreciate it

[@rogervarey6348]

Great job Dirt Boss, I recently had a fieldstone chimney rebuilt and wasn't able to be there to see it being done. I hope they put as much care and effort into as you did on this one. It looks great! It's nice to hear about how your Dad taught you this skill and that you've used it for a career, that speaks volumes about you both. Looking forward to the next video.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Roger thanks for the kind complement!

[@JoelHershberger]

Loved this video. The tear down of the chimney looks to be just as much work as the repair work. That is really an art to doing that. It really looks nice when you are done. A+

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Joel for the A+!!

[@henryg683]

My dad did a wall like that stone in our basement came out great it only cost him 1 bag of cement for the last 2 ft by 4ft section the rest he brought mortar home from work the last piece was a cold week when they had no work!!!you brought back some good memories for me of my childhood thanks!!!!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

awesome im glad to here that

[@allenzackery1639]

Nice job 👍

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks

[@michaelchamberlain4618]

They make them that cover the whole thing with one large one

[@briangardiner1015]

That was a good fix. It is interesting all the tricks to stone work.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Yes it's like anything you learn with experience..Thanks Brian

[@henryg683]

Nice trowel technique awesome reminds me of when I was laying bricks!!! You are the man!!!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks 👍

[@davidmccue3591]

This is a serious contribution to the collective knowledge of humankind. Great freakin video! Damn, i love youtube. I just got a house with an old fieldstone chimney like this that needs work. I'm pretty handy, and worked a couple years in masonry when I was a young man, but holy smokes, I wasn't sure how to tackle it. After watching this: I can do it!! Thanks man. And great channel. Subbed.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

David thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful!

[@jzeerod]

yeah i am guilty of making my own proprietary mixes. depends on what i am after, time constraints aside unless its a large job where i have the time to go around, do a once over and by the time i come back to where i started its set up, i quicken small batches inside pails for smaller jobs by adding fast set to regular sand and portland and glue mix. sand portland hydrated lime glue sometimes dish soap. i prefer dawn but the old timers used sunlight. if its cold out and your worried about freezing you can use winter car window washer fluid. prevents crystalization of the water to a lower temp. its also good for blowing out compressor hoses, it actually works better than gasline antifreeze at preventing freeze up because it foams up, doesnt just dry out.

[@tedohio3038]

Great video, good lesson. You are a craftsman.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Ted! Much appreciated 👍

[@graymond9910]

This was a fantastic video! I’ve been looking for something to assist with a 120 year old stone fireplace located on a half acre island on Lake Muskoka, about 2 hours north of Toronto. Like this chimney, ours is built with found rock, which in our case is all Canadian Shield. I have the confidence to take on the repair with tips learned from this video. Luckily our repair doesn’t require the use of scaffolding. Thank you!!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

You're welcome Good luck with the project! Thanks

[@naphza1]

Very interesting rebuild esp given the history w your father. Thanks for the video.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

You're welcome thank you appreciate you watching

[@mickeybauer5967]

awesome work Mike! I always loved the field stone fireplaces

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Mickey!

[@Mountaincrazy]

Any chance you revisited this repair? I’m about to get started with our 1865 dry stacked and has a lot of the same issues but not as bad. But the interesting part is it’s the backside! 😩

[@jeradclark]

Great repair! Enjoyed the little bit of singing @ 33:35 :)

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks buddy yeah Mico used to come up with some crazy songs !

[@RPiltingsrud]

Great video. Helped me out a lot. Thanks.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks buddy please subscribe

[@JoePesty]

you do a fantastic job explaining what you are doing, your videos are awesome, well done.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Joe!

[@henryg683]

They always used the sandy dry pack to save the boss money it still lasted a long time. I remember dad saying when he built his house there was a cement shortage even for contractors early 50 s still got er done!!!!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

thats correct ive herd that too

[@jennagarcia320]

Great video. I'm a bit confused on some of the terminology though. "Cement" and "mud" mean the same thing, right? Which in your video is referring to the sand/fiber/mortar mixture, correct? You also use the terms "slushing" and "slurry". Is slurry just a watered down version of this 3 part mixture, and slushing is the process of filling the slurry into the cavity? Finally, you mentioned "plastering" the rocks in that hollow cavity before filling it in with slurry. Does that mean using less water in that same mixture so you get a consistency that will stick to the sides? Thank you for such a helpful video.

[@garyklavon5298]

good job johnny

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thank you sir!

[@cervix-a-lot8254]

great video!, i have almost an identical situation i just looked at today!, my intuition was correct...just nice to get a bit of reinforcement!...thank you!, liked and subbed

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thank you sir & good luck!

[@cervix-a-lot8254]

@@DIRT-BOSS o7, and keep putting out great content!

[@henryg683]

I still have my dads and grandads trowels!!!

[@DIRT-BOSS]

nice!

[@Firemom11]

Hello Dirt Boss loved this video. What was the diameter of the tube you added to the end of the mortar gun? This video was full of a ton of information. Kudos to your Dad and to you for passing this on.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Hey thanks for the compliment Yes I can't recall that was a few years back!

[@Firemom11]

@@DIRT-BOSS No problem, I will get it figured out! Appreciate all the tips though

[@mapamplemousse]

good stuff

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Thanks Sean!

[@dalepremo3695]

Thanks, Dirt Boss - we learned a lot on that one. The techniques are very interesting - slow and steady. Just curious if any of that mix was hydraulic cement or was that not appropriate here?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Dale Hydraulic cement is more or less to stop water seepage plug holes.. ECT not a good mix for stone... thanks

[@slytrader]

Edward Kantor - Mike very impressive. I really enjoyed this video. I have owned old brick buildings and had to do tuck pointing on them. I just started watching your channel recently. My question to you is there anything you don't do? Keep them coming. I would like to see a touch of family videos. Your wife must be very proud of you.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Glad you enjoyed it Thanks

[@scotabot7826]

Beautiful Job Boss!! Your a talented man who is a jack of all trades! Now where's that New Holland Dozer at?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Scotabot shes on the 2000' road project. Thanks

[@scotabot7826]

@@DIRT-BOSS Good Deal! Can't wait to see her rolling some dirt and stone off the blade!!

[@DirtBrute]

Wow that drill thing is cool. Great video! How did you go from masonry to excavation?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Excavation was always a dream I loved big boy toys i guess... Less labor more profitable jobs

[@DirtBrute]

Dirt Boss Masonry & Excavating Makes total sense to me .it’s like that smarter not harder saying

[@ConstructionChannelLuxembourg]

That was very interesting to watch, and a very clean repair. What about the crack in the concrete of that chimney top, won't that also crack the concrete slope that you just made?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

We filled all cracks..plus those type of cracks dont move or translate like a sidewalk crack. Thanks for the question!

[@ConstructionChannelLuxembourg]

Makes sense!

[@BOB-gd1qc]

Would you ever use liquid bonding agent to cavity/stone back face before buttering new mortar mix. Do you ever add liquid bonding agent to mortar mix to make it more sticky?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

You can use that stuff I haven't though

[@ivanshelp5734]

going to work on 100 year old chimney also. needs to be repointed not sure how the inside looks yet do I start from bottom or top

[@DIRT-BOSS]

I'd start on the bottom Thanks for the question !

[@raymondjung458]

Mike thanks for your video. I've been searching for your work all over you tube. I live in Rhinebeck NY and volunteered in Averill NY for the Wounded Warrior Burden Lake. So I kind of know your area. My chimney is field stone and the stones are loosening up. Do you service my area? Thanks, Ray

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Hey Ray thanks yeah rhinebeck's a little out of the way I'm actually starting a project on Windham mountain tomorrow but I usually don't travel that far.

[@rickl4847]

Are you filling this with mortar like for tile or is there mortar for concrete or filling it with regular concrete. I have to do mine. Thanks

[@DIRT-BOSS]

I tell you in the video I show you what I'm mixing

[@mikeembrey9176]

Do they still burn wood or is it for looks, wonder if it is cracked next to the house with no liner good repair job thanks for video

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Mike I believe its just for looks at this point..It did have clay flues inside for a liner.. Thanks

[@mikeembrey9176]

@@DIRT-BOSS thank you, like your video's lots of different topics you two have a great week

[@coreyr4323]

I got a question and you probably said it somewhere along the line and I just missed it but all the mortar you're using to hold all the new rocks and place is that triple combo of three different bags of mix?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Yes I use a sand mix then a quikrete wall mix with fiberglass and mortar It gives three different consistencies and is really strong

[@otahu26]

Every use Epoxy top coat on the cap? To keep the freeze thew slowed down?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

No I haven't but i bet it would work great! Thanks for the feedback 👍

[@michaelcalissi3784]

Enjoyed the video. We recently purchased a home and there is water seeping into the attic through the mortar joints in our field stone chimney. I tarred the flashing and ran a water test. It’s definitely coming in through the stone. Structurally, it’s sound but I’m going to repoint some of the open cracks. What mortar mix do you suggest?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

In the beginning of the video when I was mixing I showed what I used.. Portland sand mix and I also used fiber mix go back in the vid for more detail.. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelcalissi3784]

@@DIRT-BOSS thanks, I do remember you explaining the mix. I thought that was maybe for just the cap. Same mix for the repair and joints then? Appreciate the reply.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

@@michaelcalissi3784 yes same mix will work

[@brianmiley2109]

You talk about sealing the chimney a few times, and mention sealing it every year to prevent this kind of damage. What do you recommend using to seal it?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

You could use any masonry sealer from the hardware store

[@brianmiley2109]

Thanks, and it really only lasts a year?

[@janjensen1777]

Why not stainless pins. They will not corrode?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Another hundred years before that rebar corrodes... Thanks for watching

[@deancassar9680]

great job good repair , can i ask why you didnt just stick to doing masonry work?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Dean thats a good question.. masonry is and has gave me a great living..but its very labor intensive.. you need twice the employees and I always had a passion for heavy equipment. Hope that makes sense. Thanks bud

[@deancassar9680]

@@DIRT-BOSS thanks for your reply i thought that may been the case, i can relate to you Mike i was a mason for 15yrs and just this year just start my earthworks business left the trade for the same reasons really good to see you doing both

[@DIRT-BOSS]

@@deancassar9680 that cool where you located?

[@deancassar9680]

@@DIRT-BOSS Melbourne , Australia

[@yankeydoodoodoo]

And what do you put on it each year to protect it from looking like this one?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Masonry or concrete sealer

[@scottwall4669]

Awesome. Obviously the homeowner does not do this sort of work so he will not be on the roof. I would have wrote in the concrete TRUMP just for fun.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Lol 🤣

[@CatGarlo]

I can use some help on my 2 chimneys i’m in Bethel, NY if you know anyone that is knowledgeable like you please recommend. Mine are about 90. Years old.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

No I do not know anybody from bethel that I can recommend.. sorry but thanks for asking.

[@TaraEveland]

Help! I have an 1792 stone chimney.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

wow where abouts!

[@TaraEveland]

@@DIRT-BOSS were in eastern kentucky. just had a man out today and he liked it alot. said theyre both in good shape, there are two of them

[@jonathanbrazeau970]

question. When you build a chimney like that, how do you tie that into the house framing? Does the house framing butt up against it or is build completely on the outside? I'm looking to do something like this..

[@DIRT-BOSS]

If you're building a real stone fireplace it will be made out of block first and then veneered with real stone built through and then framed to it.

[@jonathanbrazeau970]

@@DIRT-BOSS for sure, I totally understand. So I guess you build up to the inner blocks then and veneer after...inside and outside?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

@@jonathanbrazeau970 Yes that's correct

[@jonathanbrazeau970]

@@DIRT-BOSS ok makes. thanks!

[@domruegemer4301]

Where is your company located? I need a stone mason for our remodels. We are located out of St Cloud MN

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Albany NY

[@jacksoncoleman1679]

How much would a restore like this cost?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Can't remember exactly but it was few thousand..

[@ibrahiymghany5144]

What caused the cement to be so weak?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

100 years of winters

[@ibrahiymghany5144]

@@DIRT-BOSS wow. I live in the Caribbean. (Trinidad) I'm a "brick" Mason and was always fascinated with stone work and chimney construction. In the tropics we dont need chimneys as the place is so hot but I love them non the less. My grandfather was a builder and he built a lot of houses in the 60's. I guess I took after him. I love ur videos brother. I was labeled the fastest brick mason in Trinidad and u taught me something new today brother. Abraham from Trinidad

[@DIRT-BOSS]

@@ibrahiymghany5144 Awesome I appreciate that yeah Trinidad's got some crazy snakes man The Bushmaster 🐍

[@ferguson20diesel49]

Why was the construction of the chimney used with roundish stones the first day. That’s a huge no no here.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Yeah I hear you it's like a river rock around here

[@ferguson20diesel49]

@@DIRT-BOSS I see. Where I am in ireland it's a limestone place which would have been all quarried by hand back in time building old house. Very tight square stone work.

[@DIRT-BOSS]

@@ferguson20diesel49 Yes that is ideal when laying stone ! Thanks for watching buddy I appreciate it

[@UndisputedRoofer]

Are you from mn?

[@DIRT-BOSS]

NY

[@naui_diver9290]

I'm born and raised in bolton, U.K. 900 years of stonemasons NO American can call themselves stonemasons...

[@DIRT-BOSS]

Lol but yet you're watching American KZbin ! Get off my scaffold !

[@alcelynpedrique5069]

Space Cowboy, your comment is one of those that should not be said in this universe. It does NO GOOD for anyone, not even for your own soul. Have peace!

[@Joemama-vq7bv]

Super terrible comment, what about Americans that came from England? Do Egyptians make English masons look stupid? No, but you do.