Parging is an important protective layer on your home’s exterior walls that shields it from weathering and moisture damage. Over time, cracks and other issues with parging can arise that require repair work. If you’ve noticed damaged parging on your property, this blog will walk you through the process of conducting an effective repair.
What Causes Parging Damage?
There are a few common reasons why parging may become cracked or deteriorated:
- Weathering And Aging: Just like any building material, parging is exposed to sun, rain, snow, and temperature fluctuations over many years, which can gradually weaken it.
- Foundation Shifting: Minor settling of the foundation beneath the parging from changes in soil moisture or frost can cause stress cracks to form.
- Freeze-Thaw Cycling: When moisture gets behind parging, repeated freezing and thawing in winter causes expansion and contraction that cracks the surface.
- Salt Damage: In colder regions where salt is used on roads and walkways, the chemical reaction with moisture can corrode parging over time.
Knowing the likely cause of damage will help determine the appropriate repair approach. Foundation issues may require additional structural work before re-parging.
Inspecting Your Parging
Before starting repairs, carefully inspect the parging to assess the extent of the damage. Look for:
- Cracks wider than a dime, which could indicate deeper structural problems.
- Loose, flaking, or bulging sections that need complete removal rather than patching.
- Signs of moisture infiltration like damp spots, bubbling, or mold growth behind damaged areas.
Proper preparation is key, and to get the perfect parging, make sure to contact a professional masonry contractor if you see extensive deterioration or suspect structural complications. They can evaluate and recommend the best repair method.
Preparing The Surface
To prepare cracked or damaged parging for repair:
- Remove any loose, cracked, or damaged sections using a hammer and bolster or angle grinder with a masonry wheel attachment.
- Thoroughly wire brush and wash the area to get a clean, roughened surface for bonding new parging.
- Check for active moisture issues and make sure these are resolved before proceeding.
- Allow at least 24 hours to dry completely before applying fresh parging material.
Mixing Mortar And Applying The Patch
Be sure to use a parging or stucco mortar mix designed for exterior application, which is available at different masonry and home supply stores.
- Mix the dry ingredients (sand, cement) with water to a peanut butter consistency as directed on the bag.
- Apply a bonding agent to the prepared surface for better adhesion is recommended.
- Use a trowel to firmly apply the fresh mortar mixture into the prepared area, filling and slightly overfilling the void.
- Smooth and shape it to match the contours of the existing parging using a trowel, then float it for a seamless surface.
- Work in small sections that can be finished before the mortar skinning over to ensure a tight bond.
Curing And Protecting The Repair
It’s important to properly repair the new parging patch according to best practices:
- Keep it moist and prevent rapid drying by misting it with a spray bottle for at least three days.
- Cover it with plastic sheeting temporarily if the weather is hot, windy, or very dry.
- Allow at least 5-7 days to fully cure before exposing the repair to weathering elements.
- Consider applying a breathable waterproof sealant or elastomeric paint once cured for extra protection.
When To Call In A Pro?
While small parging cracks can sometimes be DIY patched, it’s generally best to hire a professional masonry contractor for:
- Extensive damage covering large surface areas
- Complicated repairs near architectural details
- Suspected structural issues with the foundation
- Moisture problems behind the parging that need resolving
- Ensuring proper techniques, materials, and a high-quality, long-lasting repair.
Their expertise, liability insurance, and warranties provide peace of mind that the job will be done right. Reputable contractors like Gillespie Handyman, Terrastone Landscaping, and Avenue Road Masonry can handle any parging repair project.
Conclusion
With the right preparation, materials, and curing techniques, damaged parging on your home’s exterior walls can be successfully repaired. Prevent further deterioration by conducting timely maintenance inspections annually of this important protective layer. With some DIY patching or by hiring a pro, your parging repair will shield walls from moisture for years to come.
