What Is Parging?

Have you noticed any sort of damage or deterioration on your foundation or basement walls? If yes, parging may just be the solution you need. But what is parging? Read on to find parging meaning, its benefits, and how it is carried out.

Concrete parging in Hamilton is a protective coating of cement that is applied over brick, concrete, and masonry foundations as an interior finish to protect the substrate from water damage and weathering. Parging can also be used intentionally for decorative effects. The process involves applying a parging mix to the affected area with a trowel. It is important to select the right parging cement mix for your project, as it should be resistant to cracking, weathering, and erosion.

What Are The Benefits of Parging?

When there is serious and extensive damage to masonry or brick foundations and walls, parging can offer the following benefits:

• Parging walls protect against water seepage and further deterioration.
• It can be used with a bonding agent for additional strength.
• Creates a solid and weatherproof barrier that prevents moisture from entering the home.
• Decorative parging adds an attractive finish to the wall.
• It can be painted if desired for additional decorative effects.

When a foundation wall is built using cement blocks, its outer section should be coated with cement. Parging serves this purpose. After that, waterproofing coatings can be applied. Parging of exposed foundation walls above grade provides an extra layer of protection for the underlying concrete or block construction and results in a stylish and polished look. You can see the beauty of wall parging around exterior gardens or retaining walls and on external structural walls with a Mediterranean or French Chateau aesthetic.

Crafting the perfect parging cement requires an artful mastery of materials. Depending on the purpose of its application, a mason may choose to infuse their creation with latex-based colors, strength-building fibers, or various concrete mix ratios. With such diverse possibilities at hand, one can truly bring life and individuality to any project.

If you have noticed damage to your brick foundation or walls, consider seeking professional help for your parging needs. There are a number of experienced contractors in Ontario who can provide quality parging services at competitive rates. However, for expert parging Toronto homeowners have come to love, you need the team at D’Angelo Brick Repair. We can provide you with the best-parged surface services. Contact us today to discuss your project!

Parging How To

Crafting the perfect parging requires expertise, practice, and precision. It may appear to be a straightforward task, but in reality, it can take many years of experience to achieve an even finish. If desired, pebbles or smooth rocks can also be added to the cement material for a textured look.

To ensure the highest quality of work, a galvanized steel mesh should be placed on the wall surface before applying concrete parging. This is commonly known as a “scratch coat” and is an essential best practice in certain conditions.

You can use a notched trowel to apply your scratch coat to capture a grooved effect. The finish coat of cement should be applied after the scratch coat has had ample time for curing and setting up. Depending on the temperature and weather, these times may fluctuate. The finished coat will have a consistent look as well as feel. If needed, it’s possible to use lighter cement mixtures in order to achieve better results with your application requirements.

What Are The Benefits of Hiring a Skilled Mason?

Parging a wall may look simple, but the nuances of this masonry craft vary greatly depending on applications, requirements, weather conditions, and geographical location. For instance, hot climates like in the West may require frequent water application to keep materials pliable – whereas different techniques are needed for wetter Eastern regions.

Before starting any project, it’s essential to consult with an experienced specialist in order to ensure that parging is the ideal solution for your needs. For instance, if a chimney has been seriously damaged over time and requires repair work before parge concrete can be applied correctly, then enlisting a knowledgeable masonry technician would be crucial.

Furthermore, parging is also used to address “bug holes” or pinholes in concrete surfaces. Such gaps can lead to outgassing. The process of outgassing describes the expulsion of air that has been trapped within a cement mixture.

Ensuring a wall is ready for reparging requires several steps, such as:

1. Carefully remove any old parging that is chipped, cracked, or peeling away.
2. With the aid of a wire brush, forcefully scrape off any surplus flakes, dust particles, and debris.
3. Next, employ a power washer to eliminate algae, dirt, and any other debris from the surface with water.
4. For the best possible hold, apply a liquid bonding agent onto the parged walls.
5. Apply a single layer of mortar with an approximate thickness of 3/8” for best results.
6. A finish coat of approximately 3/8” thickness should be applied if necessary.
7. Incorporating a mesh material as an optional layer prior to applying parging mix can help ensure structural stability and meet the desired goal.
8. Allowing the parging concrete to harden over several days, it is recommended that a mason keep it regularly moistened – though not required – as this will expedite the curing process depending on environmental conditions.

To perform parging effectively, you need to use a wide trowel and apply it in an upwards angular motion on the wall. After creating a smooth surface, it’s important for masons to re-skim over the applied portion of the parging foundation so that all excess material is removed for a neat finish. After the parging mix has set for about fifteen minutes, a mason will take a wetted hand float and even out the finished area.

With hard-earned experience and considerable practice, masons are able to achieve a delicate touch when crafting intricate details such as internal and external corners and arch features. To ensure accuracy on these components, they often employ wetted wooden forms that do not stick together while the work is being done.

How Long Does Parging Last?

Used on outdoor surfaces, parging can last over three decades when maintained properly. With masonry work that requires repairs, hiring an experienced professional for the job is essential to ensure longevity and optimal results. Additionally, the use of high-quality parging cement can make a big difference in terms of its durability over time.

Reasons Why Parging May Fail

There are several reasons why a parging job may fail, such as:

• Inadequate surface preparation
• Failure to apply the right bonding agent for parging
• Exposure to extreme weather conditions
• Not using the correct materials
• Incorrect technique or application of parging mix.

Overall, parging is a time-tested traditional form of masonry work that can be used to improve the aesthetics and structural integrity of any wall or foundation surface. It can last for decades with regular maintenance and help protect your home against the elements when performed correctly. By hiring a knowledgeable and experienced mason to do the job, you can rest assured that your parging job will be done correctly and last many years.

Contact Us For Professional Parging Services

When it comes to parging services, D’Angelo and Sons is your premier choice. Our team of experienced masons can provide you with high-quality services for all types of brick, concrete, and stone surfaces. We understand the importance of craftsmanship and take great care in making sure your job is done right the first time. Contact us today at [phone] to learn more about our parging services, including paint parging and parging basement walls. We look forward to helping you achieve the best results possible for your home or business!

FAQs

Why do houses have parging?

Parging is a type of masonry work that can be used to improve the structural integrity and aesthetics of concrete, stone, and brick surfaces. By applying parging on walls or foundation surfaces (foundation parging), you can protect your home against extreme weather conditions as well as add a decorative touch.

What time of year is best for parging?

While parging can be done at any time, it’s recommended to perform any masonry work during the warmer parts of the year as this will help expedite the drying and hardening process. Additionally, avoiding extreme temperatures is essential for a successful job. Having said that, Fall is usually the best season for parging.

Why did my parging crack?

As time passes, wall cement dries and becomes brittle, meaning that it can easily crack when exposed to extreme temperatures or moisture. Additionally, inadequate surface preparation and incorrect application of parging mix may also be the cause of cracking. To ensure a successful job and optimal results, it’s best to hire an experienced professional for the job.