Here’s a simple way to make a neat job of the coving at the joint between a block wall and its footing. As shown in the drawing, I use a tool made from a length of 8-in. PVC pipe for this task. I salvaged the pipe from the scrap pile at my local plumbing supply, and while I was there, I bought an end cap, the kind that fits inside the pipe. To complete the tool, I mounted a handle on it and rounded the leading edge with a file.
To make the coved joint, I begin by piling mortar along the junction between the blocks and the footer. Then I use the tool in a backand-forth screeding motion to pack the mortar into its coved shape. Excess mortar accumulates in the cylinder, to be reused farther down the foundation.
James Elias, Orient, OH
