How to Repair a Concrete Block Wall. A concrete block wall, whether outdoors or otherwise, can suffer damage due to weather, flooding, or accident. Readily available materials can fix some cracking in a block wall without having to tear it down and add new concrete. Follow the instructions below and take care of this damage before it can cause problems. Step 1 - Clean and Prepare the Concrete Blocks. Check all areas that will need repair including cracks and holes. Then, use a metal file to smooth off any rough mortar bits around the damage.
Wear work gloves during this process to protect yourself from some nasty scrapes. Once you're finished, clean off the concrete with a hose to get rid of any dust left over.
The goal is to make the transition between the wall and the patch as seamless as possible. Can you please put wikiHow on the whitelist for your ad blocker?
While the wall dries, bring the rest of your materials up to the repair site. Step 2 - Mix and Apply Concrete. Prepare the ready- mix concrete blend as per the instructions on the product.
How to Repair a Poured Concrete Wall. What do you do if you need to repair a poured concrete wall? This article walks you through repairing it. How to Patch Cinder Block Holes. You, yourself, can patch a hole in a cinder block of your house or garden wall. How to Patch a Concrete Block.
Work quickly so it stays flexible until the job is finished. Load the pointed trowel with concrete and slough off excess on the carrying board. Fill the mortar gap between blocks with it, holding the trowel at an angle and wedging the material in.
Concrete block foundation walls which are tall enough to form basements. Diagonal and Horizontal Cracks in Concrete Block Foundation Wall. Home Guides Mortgage Loan Rates Fixed Mortgage Rates How to Fix Holes in a Concrete Block Water Retaining Wall; How to Fix Holes in a Concrete Block Water.
Smooth over it with the point and edge of the trowel. Step 3 - Use Caulking to Fix Repairs that Need Adhesive.
Slide the tube of general purpose caulking into a tubular caulking gun. Trim off the tip to as wide as your little finger to let the caulk flow out. Then, put the tip of the gun near the repair spot and squeeze until the sealant comes out. Completely fill the area with adhesive and smooth with a damp cloth. Step 4 - Use Mortar and Concrete Caulk to Fill Holes. If your wall has holes as well as cracks, you'll need to use a slightly different material. Put a tube of combined mortar and concrete caulk into the caulking gun.
Open it by cutting the tip off and squeeze until the contents come out in a bead. Fill the hole, working upward from the bottom. Apply in overlapping layers from side to side, using a generous amount.
Clean off the trowel and use it to smooth the edges when complete. Step 5 - Repair with Concrete Epoxy for Leaks. To repair a leaking concrete block wall in a basement, you'll need concrete epoxy cement to make a waterproof seal. Concrete epoxy cements expand as they dry to make a seal that can withstand a waterspout of several hundred pounds of pressure. After you've smoothed the edges of the crack with the file, trim them into a dovetail shape like the support of a drawer either with the metal file or a wedge. Put the concrete epoxy cement on the caulking gun, open up the tip to draw out a small amount, and squeeze it smoothly into the crack. Smooth over the repair with a damp cloth and allow it to set.
Concrete block wall repairs are within the skills of do- it- yourself people. Have the confidence to try, and you will be successful.
How to Repair Brick and Block Foundations. Home & Garden. Exteriors. Brick Repair. How to Repair Brick and Block Foundations. Most often, the cause of damage to brick foundations is cracked mortar. If the damaged area is manageable, a do- it- yourselfer can easily perform the necessary repairs. Bricks were once used extensively to construct foundations.
Today, however, if a foundation doesn’t consist of concrete, it’s probably constructed of concrete block. In either case, brick and block have one thing in common: They’re joined together with mortar.
Unfortunately, over time, mortar deteriorates. Cracked and deteriorating mortar joints aren’t only unsightly, but they also diminish the integrity of the surface and can allow water to get behind the brick or block, causing major damage. You prevent this problem by tuck- pointing the brick or block foundation, which means removing and replacing cracked or missing mortar.
If the cracked or deteriorating mortar is extensive (an entire foundation, wall, or wainscot), tuck- pointing is a project that’s best left to professionals. To do the repairs yourself, follow these steps: 1. Chip away cracked and loose mortar by using a slim cold chisel and a hammer. Remove the existing material to a depth of approximately 1/2 inch.
Wear safety goggles to avoid catching a piece of flying mortar in the eye. Use the cold chisel slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the surrounding brick. Use a brush to clean up all the loose material and dust after you finish chiseling.
Prepare your mortar and allow the mix to set for about five minutes. You can purchase premixed mortar, or you can create your own batch by using one part masonry cement to three parts fine sand. In either case, you want to add enough water to create a paste . It’s best to keep the mix a touch on the dry side. If it’s too runny, it’ll be weak and will run down the wall, making it difficult to apply. Brush the joints with fresh water. Doing so removes any remaining dust and prevents the existing mortar from drawing all the moisture out of the new mortar.
Otherwise, the mortar can be difficult to apply and is likely to crack. Apply the mortar by using a pointing trowel. Force the mortar into the vertical joints first and remove the excess (to align with the existing adjacent mortar) by using a brick jointer.
The brick jointer helps create a smooth, uniform finish. After you’ve filled in all the vertical joints, tackle the horizontal ones. Avoid applying mortar in extreme weather conditions; mortar doesn’t set properly in such circumstances. A week or two after the mortar has set, apply a coat of high- quality acrylic or silicone masonry sealer. Seal the entire surface . The sealer prevents water damage, which is especially important if you live in an area that gets particularly cold. Unsealed brick, block, and mortar absorb water that freezes in cold weather.
The water turns to ice and causes the material to expand and crack. Periodic sealing prevents this problem from occurring.