How To Repair Hairline Cracks In Concrete Block Walls
Minutes is All You Need. Prince Persia Rival Swords Pc. This time of year I start to notice all the flaws in my driveway, steps, and walkways. While doing a routine fall preventive maintenance check at one of our rental houses I noticed a sizable gap on the walkway between a concrete step and landing area. FoundationCrackModular010DJFs.jpg' alt='How To Repair Hairline Cracks In Concrete Block Walls' title='How To Repair Hairline Cracks In Concrete Block Walls' />The gap was about 12 inch wide and seemed to be getting bigger over time. Although this could just be my bad eyesight anyone else feel my pain here. Id like to avoid the possibility of the crack getting larger and creating additional fractures. My goals for this quick project were to fill the large crack,make it watertight, and allow it to expandcontract with the natural freeze thaw cycles. These are the supplies youll need. The total cost of this project if you have to buy everything is 2. Im going out on a limb and assuming most of you own a broom and concrete crack filler LOL, just kidding. If you own a broom and scissors the total cost is 1. If your crack is less than 14 inch then you dont even need the foam tubing. Filling and repairing cracks in concrete is super important to prevent further damage. Crack_Fillers_461_DJFs.jpg' alt='How To Repair Hairline Cracks In Concrete Block Walls' title='How To Repair Hairline Cracks In Concrete Block Walls' />This is an easy fix and I walk you through it via a video as well as a step by step guide. So lets get started because today youre going to discover a new cost saving home repair fix Clean the Crack Step 1. Use a broom or brush to clean the crack. Even this hairline foundation crack can be repaired using our low pressure repair method. A liquid polyurethane resin is injected into the concrete wall crack. Repairing cracks in concrete is easy and stops larger problems from arising. View this post because your wallet doesnt need to lose any more weightBy the way, the brush Im using in this video was my grandpas. Before he passed away he had the presence of mind to give away all of his material possessions except for few tools. I kept his brush and a few mason trowels as a reminder that you can build anything if youre willing to learn and be persistent. If youre concrete crack has grease on it visit your local hardware or auto parts store and ask them for a product that will help remove the residue. The crack I was working with was the result of the step and landing area pulling away from each other. It was a control joint that was purposely put in place to prevent cracks from occurring. This control joint unfortunately became out of control and widened too much over the last 6. If water continues to get into the huge crack it will continue to separate the step and landing area from each other. And the type of repair that this process will lead to can be very expensive to fix. Insert Foam Tubing aka Polyfoam Caulk Saver into Large Cracks Step 2. The crack I had to repair was about 12 inch wide. Although Sakrete crack filler can be used for cracks up to this size its best to fill in large gaps with the foam tubing. The foam tubing should be slightly wider than the crack to create a tight fit. I used a 58 inch wide variety. Place the tubing in the crack and push it down. There should be a 14 inch space between the top of the foam tubing and the top of the concrete crack. This 14 inch space is where the concrete crack filler will be poured. Click on this link for more details on the polyfoam caulk saver. Its made by Frost King who also has a ton of other great weatherizing products. Check out their website www. Apply Concrete Crack Filler Step 3 This is the fun part. Do you remember doing those crazy art projects in grade school This is the adult version AND it saves you money in the long run. Shake the concrete crack sealer vigorously for about 1. Cut the applicator tip with your scissors or a utility knife or a steak knife unless youre vegetarian. Squeeze the bottle and allow the crack filler to seal the crack where the foam tubing resides. Allow the filler to setup for 2. I checked my crack filler this phrase would have gotten me a demerit in Catholic school and certainly Id have detention by the end of this tutorial after 3. Click on this link for more information on the Sakrete crack filler I used. If your crack is super deep DEMERIT you can add a second application. A 2. 4 hour wait time is needed between each successive application. I didnt trowel or smooth out the Sakrete concrete crack filler. Youll find that it is self leveling and will look fine after it settles. Heres a video of this repair project. You should watch it because it walks you through the entire process. Repairing Cracks in Concrete. I hope you discovered how easy it is to fill concrete cracks. It doesnt take much time and is a great way to maintain your sidewalks, driveway, steps, and really anything concrete that has a horizontal crack in it. Dont hesitate to ask a question in the comment section. You can also add your own tips because Im always on the look out for great ideas Make it a great day P. S. We dont just teach you about filling cracks in concrete. If youre looking to plan, renovate and improve your homes value with a DIY bathroom remodel youd love Bathroom Repair Tutor. Check it out right here. Painting Concrete Block The Practical House Painting Guide. A properly painted concrete block wall will be virtually maintenance free for many years, but the same wall not properly painted can be a maintenance nightmare. There are just a few critical differences between a good and a bad paint job. The main considerations you need to think about are new and unpainted, condition of existing finish and type of concrete block. All of these will require similar approaches when preparing the block for the protective finish coat. You will encounter two types of block, smooth and split face. The difference of texture will drastically alter the amount of primer and finish paint needed. Count on split face block needing twice as muck primer and paint when compared to smooth block. Exterior block surfaces can be either, but interior block surfaces are always smooth. Preparing the Concrete Block For Painting. Painting concrete block walls always starts with the removal of dust and dirt, efflorescence, and all loose or peeling paint. Both interior and exterior block surfaces require the same attention to details. Efflorescence Deposits. Plain water will remove loose paint and dirt but efflorescence will need chemicals to be neutralized. Efflorescence is a white powder that can form on the concrete block and is caused by water infiltration inside the block. Can be caused by failing exterior paint, a leaking roof or metal cap flashing. Use acidic masonry cleaner to remove this unsightly mess. On interior surfaces use a scrub brush to fully remove stubborn deposits. While pressure washing the exterior inject the masonry cleaner into the washer and use a scrub broom on persistent areas. After removing the efflorescence deposits find out were the water leaks came from and make any repairs necessary. Interior Preparation. New unpainted concrete block walls need to have all dirt and loose mortar removed prior to priming. Painted walls will need all loose and peeling paint removed. Lift off the peeling paint with a stiff putty knife or paint scraper. Then scrub the area with a wire brush. Also, any greasy or oily deposits will need to be cleaned with TSP, trisodium phosphate, and primed with a stain blocking primer. Exterior Preparation. The first step when preparing concrete block walls is pressure washing. Use a commercial style pressure washer and at least 2. A suitable spray pattern is the 1. Any remaining loose paint will need to be removed manually. During the preparation pay attention to any loose mortar and large cracks. All repairs need to be done after the pressure washing. Pressure Washing. A good washing will save a lot of time later. Dont rush, its easier to pressure wash than manually scrape the loose paint. New and Unpainted All your after is removing any dust, dirt and loose chunks of mortar. Mild pressure, 1. Work in a horizontal, back and forth, pattern. Start washing at the top and work your way down the concrete block wall. Previously Painted Most of the prep work involves removing all loose or peeling paint and fully evaluating the condition of the block. The pressure washer can remove most, if not all, of the loose paint. To remove the majority of peeling paint with a pressure washer use 2. Hold the tip 1. 2 inches from the surface and work in a horizontal, back and forth, pattern. If any paint peels during the washing continue following the edge of the loose paint. Try to inject the water underneath to lift as much as possible. The spray tip can be within 68 inches of the surface to concentrate the water pressure. Follow this procedure with a vertical washing pattern. Installing Apache2 On Raspberry Pi. In order to provide the most adhesion and best performance, all caulking needs to take place after the application of primer. You have many choices, as which to use. The best types of caulk are elastomeric and polyurethane. Use non sagging polyurethane for expansion joints and elastomeric around windows and doors. Materials needed for caulking expansion joints are foam backer rod and non sagging polyurethane caulk. The backer rod needs to be slightly thicker than the expansion joint, example a 34 inch joint needs 1 inch foam backer rod. Insert the backer rod 1234 of an inch below the surface. Polyurethane sealants are very sticky and reduced with mineral spirits. Use a plastic spoon and mineral spirits to tool and smooth the sealant. Caulking windows and doors is the same on a concrete block building as with caulking any interior or exterior surface. Choosing the Primer and Paint. Primer. Unpainted concrete block needs to be primed before the application of the finish paint. The main function of the primer is to fill the pores and neutralize the high P. H. The best primer designed for this purpose is Acrylic Block Fill. Typical coverage for Block Fill is 2. Acrylic Block Fill primer can be applied over acrylic or latex painted concrete block when properly cleaned and prepared. Many manufactures also produce an oil base formula for use over oil base finishes. This can resolve prior defects in paint jobs that were never properly primed and have open pores. Paint. Any high quality paint can be applied over Block Fill primer, but certain types perform better over time. The absolute best for exterior use is Elastomeric paint. This finish can outlast normal paint 21. The next best choice is 1. Acrylic semi gloss or satin sheen paint. Interior surfaces can receive any sheen to match your decor. Acrylic paints will out last standard oil base finishes when use on the exterior. With interiors your paint choice depends on the use of the wall, room or area. Finishes with a higher sheen, semi gloss or satin, will be easier to clean and maintain. Applying the Primer and Paint. In most cases the primer and paint should be applied to concrete block with an airless sprayer and back rolled. This is a two person operation. Block Fill primer is thick and will require a powerful airless sprayer. A 34 gallon per minute sprayer and a 5. Large professional units can be rented. Use a gas powdered sprayer on the exterior for added power and convenience. The roller cover needs to be a thick nap and of the highest quality. Cheap synthetic roller covers become compressed easily and will be frustrating to work with. Use 341 inch for smooth block and 1 12 inch on split face block. Apply a thick even coat and immediately use the roller to push the primer and finish paint into the pores of the concrete block. The goal is to produce a surface that is completely filled and sealed against moisture. This procedure works equally well on interior block surfaces. Back rolling is a great way to produce a better looking result even without the need for primer. Spraying isnt always necessary, standard brush and rolling techniques can be used. Dipping and rolling will be slower and more labor intensive, but when painting the interior of occupied block buildings and homes rolling can be the best application method.