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A mason lays brick or stone together, sometimes with mortar in between the bricks and stones, and sometimes without mortar, also called a dry-stack or surface bonding. Examples of work masons do include:

• Brick, stone, or cement block houses and buildings

• Freestanding stone or brick walls

• Chimneys with wood-burning fireplaces

• Cement block basement or crawl space walls

If you would rather use vinegar to clean the stone fireplace instead of dish soap, this mixture should work fine. Vinegar is slightly acidic, however, so it may etch some kinds of stone without quite a bit of diluting. For a stone fireplace, dilute it to about one cup of vinegar for every gallon of hot water. It’s a smart idea to test the diluted mixture in an inconspicuous area of the fireplace and watch for etching. You can use vinegar to clean quite a few different items around your home, and it’s especially good at removing stains.

How often you need to reseal marble countertops depends on the quality and color of the stone, the traffic on the surface, and the type of sealant. Sealing at least once a year is the general rule of thumb. However, if your large family loves to cook or the countertops are in a busy family bathroom, you might have to reseal them every six months (or more). The surfaces of your rarely used guest bathroom might not need resealing for a few years.

Bluestone patios can last anywhere from 50 to 100 years. Exactly how long your patio lasts depends on factors like how well the pavers or slabs were installed, soil conditions, and maintenance. Remember to reseal your patio every three to five years and stay on top of cleaning and replacing broken pavers.