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Greenville, RI on Jul 14, 2012

Eye sore - concrete patio wall -

I am going to resurface with skim coat & textured mural. i know the cleaning prep part and how to fill the holes.. but I can't seem to find info about whether the cement wall has to be wet first, too ensure the new coat adheres properly.

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Yuk!! This have gotta change --

5 Comments

Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Carol,
if your thinking of resurfacing with a cement based product a few things must be done for it to adhere properly.
All paint must be removed. And the entire wall must be acid washed if your not going to apply a expanded metal mesh on the surface. If your not into getting it that clean, or there are cracks ...»
on the surface then you need to simply wire brush all loose and chipping paint and debris off and fasten expanded metal onto the surface. At that point you can re-apply a new plaster coat on the wall to make it smooth again and accept paint.
If your simply going to paint it using a textured finish or water proofing type of paint then clean well, ideally power wash to remove all of the existing paint again. Any cracks should be filled using an expanding cement product. This is found where the water proofing paint is sold in the store.
Then when dry apply the finish on the wall.
When patching holes in cement the contractor normally splashes water onto the surface of the cement to raise its moisture level. This prevents the dry wall from drawing the moisture out of the new cement that is applied. Cement hardens because of chemical reaction when the water is present. If it dries out to fast the newly applied surface fails to properly set and bond. There are other paint products found in the cement isle that when applied provide a better grip for the newly applied coat of mortar to adhere to but this is really for thicker patches that you would find on a sidewalk or a hole repair.
Hope this helps you out.

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 1
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

This varies by the product you will be using...some require a bonding agent.
http://www.ctscement.com/RS_SM_PlasterExteri...
some go on dry ...»

http://www.ctscement.com/WunderFixx.asp
its best to consult with the products label for proper application

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 0
Hamtil Construction LLC Saint Louis, MO

Definitely heed the surface prep advice of Woodbridge and I agree with KMS, that it all varies by the product you are applying. Skim coats of cement, stucco, plaster, etc.. will be a great choice but are not easy products to work with. Other coatings like drylock and paint on products are easier but I would assume that is not what you are considering.
Some cement based products do require misting the surface first. The specs will say if it is ...»
required. We also utilize bonding agents such as Tamms Akkro 7-T quite frequently and even will use acrylic fortifier in the skim coat to provide added durability.
Tech info: http://bit.ly/NocVqd

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 1
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

Prior to repair, you will want to determine the cause of the damage. Is this damage caused by sprinkler heads from your side, water seepage from a neighbor's side of the wall, or just where a former plant was against the wall, which has been removed. You may need to look at waterproofing the surface before repairing to assure your repair is more than a temporary cover-up of a bigger issue.

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 0
Carol S Greenville, RI

Cause of damage is age - this wall hasn't been expose to anthing in 50 years - ( except maybe folks who thought a coat of paint was all that was needed.) It is under a roof and my garage. I will check it to see if it gets wet next time it rains - but water on the walls or patio floor.

on Jul 14, 2012 · Like 0