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?? :thinker: 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.

Hello! I have been researching and gathering supplies for an upcoming project remodeling the outside of my house. To improve the look of the front of my home, I decided to do a wainscot roughly 4' up to the bottom of my windows. Currently, I have exterior sheetrock and defective lap siding (which I assume is some type of wood product although it looks like cardboard under the paint.) That is being torn off to the studs and replaced with OSB and an engineered wood siding. The 4' wainscot is uncharted territory for me although from the research it certainly looks doable. I did however have some questions as I want to make absolutely sure this project is done right, increases the value of my home and complies with best practices. [B]The current plan:[/B] - I am only doing roughly 150 sq/ft total (the front side of the home with one inside and one outside corner.) - I purchased thin-cut stone veneer from a quarry (a sandstone in 3-6 cuts) - The underlying construction will be wood stud with OSB sheathing unless someone strongly urges me to go with a regular plywood instead for this application - I intend to do my water barrier with a grade D felt, doubled and overlapped - I intend to install a galvanized foundation weep screed approximately 1 to 1.5' above grade at the base of my wainscot. - I will have self-furred galvanized lath over that. - I will have a casing bead around all dissimilar materials and trim. - I will have a 1/2" scratch coat over the lath. - I will have a 1/2" mortar joint between stones. - Weather is variable, hot summers, cold winters. [B]Here are my questions:[/B] - I purchased Quikrete brand Veneer Stone Mortar (non-polymer version), should I add an admixture to this? If yes, what is recommended? This will be used for both scratch coat, butter and the joints. Do you feel it is a suitable mortar for this? There are a ton of these and I'm uncertain which I would need. I also don't know if the Veneer Stone Mortar has anything added to it that may conflict or otherwise be a problem with an admixture. I'm not sure of what quality the Quikrete mixture is. It is listed to exceed Type S standards but does not specifically mention its composition. - Because I am using natural stone, do I need to do any sealing or post-install treatment? - I have read about Drainage Planes. Do I need to install a rainscreen type material between the lath and WRB? How necessary is this? Is there a recommended brand? It is generally dry here with occasionally heavy storms. - Is there anything I have missed or any specific advice you have for this installation? I thank you in advance for any help provided. I just want to make sure I do this absolutely right!