Top view of a prepared cement foundation.
Before you make any cosmetic repairs to the cement foundation of your home, you should have an inspector examine the damage to make sure that it is only cosmetic and does not, in fact, threaten the integrity of your home's foundation. This does not mean, however, that you must hire a professional to repair superficial flaws. You can restore the curb appeal of your home, and others' confidence in the safety of it, by patching that crumbling cement foundation in a single long weekend. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose protective clothing that completely covers your arms, legs and feet. Protect your eyes with safety goggles and your hands with heavy gloves. You may wish to wear a paper mask or respirator.
2. With a stiff-bristled wire brush, scrub away any small, crumbling bits of cement from around the edges of the areas that need patching. Once all of the damaged areas have been smoothed, spray the foundation with a garden hose to remove all of the dust and cement debris. Allow the cement to dry thoroughly.
3. Place the two cement blocks snugly up against the foundation underneath the first area that you will be patching. You may have to turn the blocks or even cut them to make them the correct size. Place a scrap board flat lengthwise on top of the two blocks, pushing it tightly up against the foundation. As you patch the crumbling foundation, some of the wet patch product may fall. This small scaffolding will protect your grass or other surface below and also allow you to scrape up what falls with your trowel and reapply it.
4. Empty the powdered cement patch product into a bucket and add the amount of water called for by the manufacturer of the product. Mix the cement patch thoroughly with a shovel until the consistency is similar to loose toothpaste.
5. Use the spray-bottle to lightly dampen the first area that you will be patching. Scoop up some of the patch product with the metal trowel and begin filling the corroded area. Keep applying cement patch until this area is even with the undamaged cement around it. Use the flat side of the trowel to smooth the surface of the patch.
6. Allow the cement to cure for two hours, then rub the soft surface with a second piece of scrap lumber. This gives the patches a similar texture to the older cement around them. Remove the spare cement blocks and board.
7. Cover each patch carefully and completely with a piece of heavy plastic wrap. Cure the cement for three days, then remove the plastic wrap.
Tags: cement foundation, cement patch, patch product, your home, against foundation
