Parging is the technique used by masons to cover a masonry or stone wall with mortar. This practice helps protect your building from the element, and it ensures a long life for the wall. Parging is a difficult skill to master, but once learned, it is a great way to hide cracks and imperfections in a wall. Prepping a wall and using the correct parging mixture can ensure your walls look great for years to come. In this article, we will talk about the best parging practices to keep in mind when starting a project.
Preparing the Wall
Before applying anything to a wall, the surface must be smooth. Remove any loose or clumped patches of existing material off the wall. You want to avoid bumps as it will make the parging ware away faster in those spots. If the wall has excess dirt or debris stuck on it, wash the wall before applying the mixture.
Using the Right Parging Mixture
A typical parging mixture consists of water, lime, and cement. Most local hardware stores have all the necessary ingredients. However, preparing the mixture on your own can prove quite difficult. If you don’t have the proper balance of ingredients, the mixture can end up drying or cracking in the future. If you don’t feel comfortable making the mix yourself, pre-mixed bags will do the trick just fine.
Applying the Mixture
Once the mortar mixture is ready for application, wet the wall and use a masonry trowel to begin covering the exterior wall. You can give the wall a smooth or textured design, depending on what style you want. The first layer should be no thicker than 3/8″. A second layer isn’t necessary unless the desired texture or design of the wall wasn’t met with the first layer.
It is possible to paint the parging after it has dried, a minimum of 24 hours later, but it isn’t recommended. Paint on the mortar will begin to chip over time as the weather takes its toll on the exterior of the parging.
Why is Parging Important?
During the cold months of a Toronto winter, the exterior walls of a building can sustain significant weather damage. If the wall is open to the elements, water can get into cracks and freeze. Once the water has frozen, it expands and causes further damage to the walls. Parging acts as a barrier between the wall and the weather, increasing the lifespan of the wall. Parging also helps give your wall a clean finish, thereby increasing the curb appeal.
Bottom Line
Repairing damaged or unsightly exterior walls can go a long way to improving the appearance of a building. Parging is a great way to refinish the outside of a building and hide any ugly cracks that are present. Our expert masons at Cummins Restoration have the experience and expertise to assist in any parging for your property. If you want to give your building the exterior beauty it deserves, call us today to schedule a consultation.
