How to Repair Sandstone Walls

Sandstone walls are one of the many beautiful wall designs you can construct in your backyard. Sandstone rock is heavy and can withstand nature’s many elements such as wind, rain, and snow. But it is not invincible. Portions of the wall may get damaged or broken. You have to be prepared that the repair process can be quite challenging and may take some time to complete.

Step 1 - Clear the Damaged Area

To begin repairing the wall first remove the damaged parts only. Do this by clearing away any rubble and loose rock around the area. Then, remove the old cement of the damaged area from the rock you have already removed. The old cement is removed by gently tapping the rock and wall with a hammer. If you tap too hard, there is a chance you can damage a bigger portion of the wall or break the rock completely. Be cautious when hammering off old cement. Use the trowel and wire brush to remove excess dust and debris.

Step 2 - Mix the Cement

If the wall is there a long time, you may have difficulty matching the color of the old and new cement perfectly. You will need to buy light and dark sand so you can mix the two together to find the perfect mix of color. You should mix the cement until it has the consistency of thick soup or oatmeal. Keep adding sand until you reach the desired color. Be careful when adding more water because it can make the mixture watery and unusable.

In order to check the color of the cement, you can use the same process to check the paint's color. Place a small amount of mixed cement on a piece of wood and apply heat to it, so it dries quickly. The color of the cement when dry will let you know if you have the perfect color.

Step 3 - Replace the Stones

Using your sponge, wet the stones around the broken section of the wall. This will keep the stones from releasing too much water. This also prevents the cement from cracking in the future and having to repair it again. Once you are ready, you can begin filling the areas of the wall with cement. Use your trowel to apply the cement, and gently replace the clean stones.

If there are small areas that are left open, you can either insert smaller stones or you can use a tiny stick to fill in the seams with more cement. Allow sufficient time for the cement to dry. Lastly, remove any excess cement by using the wire brush.