Best material for crack repair in concrete walls
#1
08-09-12, 01:40 PM
Best material for crack repair in concrete walls
Ok...another wifes gym issue. (btw, to be clear....she doesn't own it...just friends with the owner and helping out)
Wife really wants to paint the concrete walls and eventually the wainscoting that was installed previously. Problem is below almost every window corner there are cracks. 100 y/o building...guess it's to be expected. Most are probably 1/8-1/4" and extend downward from the corner of the window about 6-8". Not all the way through the wall...or if they are, a stucco exterior has covered it up. Anyway...they aren't moving and no light showing.
Some are slightly spalled(?) on the surface, but most are just a crack.
So what can I buy for wifey to fill these cracks before painting. She used regular DAP spackle for filling some nail/screw holes and it seemed to work fine...but not sure thats a good choice.
Think regular pre-mix joint compound with a spray of water in the crack beforehand would work? I'd like to avoid having her have to mix stuff...but the owner has a bag of stucco/mortar mix (I'm sure that's what is said..though it seems wierd) that could be used. Maybe a tub of latex stucco patch??
As I was writing...I think I may have answered my question. The latex stucco patch would give it a bit more of a texture than caulk or joint compound. And from using it on the block fence and a few damaged corners of the house...it seems to stick and tool well.
Wife really wants to paint the concrete walls and eventually the wainscoting that was installed previously. Problem is below almost every window corner there are cracks. 100 y/o building...guess it's to be expected. Most are probably 1/8-1/4" and extend downward from the corner of the window about 6-8". Not all the way through the wall...or if they are, a stucco exterior has covered it up. Anyway...they aren't moving and no light showing.
Some are slightly spalled(?) on the surface, but most are just a crack.
So what can I buy for wifey to fill these cracks before painting. She used regular DAP spackle for filling some nail/screw holes and it seemed to work fine...but not sure thats a good choice.
Think regular pre-mix joint compound with a spray of water in the crack beforehand would work? I'd like to avoid having her have to mix stuff...but the owner has a bag of stucco/mortar mix (I'm sure that's what is said..though it seems wierd) that could be used. Maybe a tub of latex stucco patch??
As I was writing...I think I may have answered my question. The latex stucco patch would give it a bit more of a texture than caulk or joint compound. And from using it on the block fence and a few damaged corners of the house...it seems to stick and tool well.
#2
08-09-12, 03:41 PM
So what can I buy for wifey to fill these cracks
!!The texture of pre mixed concrete patch may make it look good, but in time it will release as well. It comes in a tube as well as a tub. I like to use either Big Stretch or Butyl Rubber when trying to get a water seal, as in around windows. The side wall can be patched and will probably not have any adverse reactions.
#3
08-09-12, 03:46 PM
The latex might give it more texture but I don't know if it's paintable. I don't recommend painting concrete, in the first place but I know that there is no chance on earth, to convince them, not to do it. It sounds like the motar mix that they have seems to be the best choice since it's just an add water & go thing.
#4
08-09-12, 04:18 PM
Jeez...you guys! Here I was all set...and you make me rethink.
Just to be clear...the stucco patch is basically an acrylic latex caulk in a tub...with a pretty coarse sand texture. It is paintable...I did it on the corner repairs on the house and it looks fine 5 yrs later. Visible difference from regular stucco when it rains...but not a big issue. The interior walls at the gym have already been painted...probably many times. This was an old Lodge building.
I'm just not sure that the mortar mix will stick that well without some prep and technique. Like I said...she's doing the work (REALLY!). Heck she patched all the visible holes with spackle by climbing on tractor tires and gym equipment as far as she could reach. I just had to show her how to dampen it with a sponge and pack it in.
No water seal required....
No easy answer I guess......just have to try things.
Just to be clear...the stucco patch is basically an acrylic latex caulk in a tub...with a pretty coarse sand texture. It is paintable...I did it on the corner repairs on the house and it looks fine 5 yrs later. Visible difference from regular stucco when it rains...but not a big issue. The interior walls at the gym have already been painted...probably many times. This was an old Lodge building.
I'm just not sure that the mortar mix will stick that well without some prep and technique. Like I said...she's doing the work (REALLY!). Heck she patched all the visible holes with spackle by climbing on tractor tires and gym equipment as far as she could reach. I just had to show her how to dampen it with a sponge and pack it in.
No water seal required....
No easy answer I guess......just have to try things.
