Painting vs parging concrete foundation
#1
03-23-16, 06:22 AM
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Painting vs parging concrete foundation
Hi gang,
I'm looking for some advice on painting vs parging our exterior concrete foundation. The concrete itself is likely 50+ years old in the older part of the house (built in 1899), 20 years old in the addition, and one of the previous owners painted it with pool blue cement paint (gross).
It's going to cost about 4 times more to have the paint ground off and parged than it would for the cement to be rehabilitated in areas (a few cracks, bumps, etc) and for us to paint it... I'm wondering if there's anything practical I should be thinking about when considering one over the other (besides cost of course). Pros/Cons?
I should mention the basement is a crawlspace, there's no standing water but in the spring it gets damp, so breathability is important.
Thanks!
I'm looking for some advice on painting vs parging our exterior concrete foundation. The concrete itself is likely 50+ years old in the older part of the house (built in 1899), 20 years old in the addition, and one of the previous owners painted it with pool blue cement paint (gross).
It's going to cost about 4 times more to have the paint ground off and parged than it would for the cement to be rehabilitated in areas (a few cracks, bumps, etc) and for us to paint it... I'm wondering if there's anything practical I should be thinking about when considering one over the other (besides cost of course). Pros/Cons?
I should mention the basement is a crawlspace, there's no standing water but in the spring it gets damp, so breathability is important.
Thanks!
#2
03-23-16, 07:05 AM
Welcome to the forums Erin!
I wouldn't rely on the foundation for air flow to keep the crawlspace dry! That job is done by having foundation vents or completely sealing off the crawlspace and conditioning that space.
Whether to paint or have it stucco'd is mostly a personal choice. I've painted foundations that were just bare block or poured concrete and those that were covered with stucco. I suspect the pool paint would need a solvent based primer before a latex top coat would adhere well.
I wouldn't rely on the foundation for air flow to keep the crawlspace dry! That job is done by having foundation vents or completely sealing off the crawlspace and conditioning that space.
Whether to paint or have it stucco'd is mostly a personal choice. I've painted foundations that were just bare block or poured concrete and those that were covered with stucco. I suspect the pool paint would need a solvent based primer before a latex top coat would adhere well.
#3
03-23-16, 07:45 AM
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Thanks Mark!
I had a feeling someone would probably call me on the airflow situation. I was kind of pulling that out of my arse
So I can go ahead and assume that parging vs painting is a purely aesthetic choice?
I had a feeling someone would probably call me on the airflow situation. I was kind of pulling that out of my arse
So I can go ahead and assume that parging vs painting is a purely aesthetic choice?
#4
03-23-16, 09:35 AM
Yes, it's strictly a personal choice [or HOA 
] If you look around you'll notice houses with bare foundations, painted, stucco'd or brick/rock. My foundation is unpainted, mainly because I hope to one day stick stone on it.
] If you look around you'll notice houses with bare foundations, painted, stucco'd or brick/rock. My foundation is unpainted, mainly because I hope to one day stick stone on it.
#6
03-27-16, 11:54 AM
both will eventually fail altho i suspect parge coat will last longer IF you use cement-all now being sold in apron/vest stores,,, much better than regular cementitious products
