Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

7

Time Required

                          3 days

Sections

1

  • How to Repair Cracks in a Cement Wall
  • 7 steps

Flags

This guide has been the hard work of our awesome students and is found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

  • BackHome Construction

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

Cracks can occur for several reasons; however, the two most common are weather erosion and aging materials. Upkeep can be time consuming, but with proper maintenance this will not have to be done often. Small cracks in your wall can quickly become larger with moisture and freezing temperatures. Adding a stucco finish to your cement wall is not necessary but is often desired for its aesthetic appeal.

This guide features the operating of power tools and basic knowledge of using cement related products. Please be aware that if not used correctly or cautiously, cement products can be dangerous. Information on cement burns can be found here.

This repair can be done in short bursts depending on the size the area you want to fix. On average, a few cracks can be fixed over the course of three days, taking roughly an hour each day. Drying time varies depending on product but averages 48 hours.

Before beginning, make sure to read through the guide to understand what will be required of you for this repair.

What you need

Step 1

              How to Repair Cracks in a Cement Wall
  • Remove the loose pieces of the wall in and around the crack.
  • Widen the crack to about an inch thick with an automatic angled concrete grinder.
  • A manual grinder may also work but will require more physical effort compared to the automatic grinder.
  • Use caution when operating power tools.

Remove the loose pieces of the wall in and around the crack.

Widen the crack to about an inch thick with an automatic angled concrete grinder.

A manual grinder may also work but will require more physical effort compared to the automatic grinder.

Use caution when operating power tools.

1024

Step 2

  • Follow the instructions on the cement patcher mix until the product is a paste consistency.
  • Soak a sponge in water and wet the now larger crack. Be sure to get water into the entire crack so that the area is moist.
  • Use a trowel to fill the mix into the crevices.
  • You may also use a steel putty knife or margin trowel.
  • Caution: Wear gloves to avoid getting paste onto your hands. Contact with skin could cause second or third-degree chemical burns.

Follow the instructions on the cement patcher mix until the product is a paste consistency.

Soak a sponge in water and wet the now larger crack. Be sure to get water into the entire crack so that the area is moist.

Use a trowel to fill the mix into the crevices.

You may also use a steel putty knife or margin trowel.

Caution: Wear gloves to avoid getting paste onto your hands. Contact with skin could cause second or third-degree chemical burns.

Step 3

  • Rewet the sponge and begin to smooth the patch mix into the wall.
  • A smooth blend will ensure the product stocks evenly across your wall and allows it to blend in.

Rewet the sponge and begin to smooth the patch mix into the wall.

A smooth blend will ensure the product stocks evenly across your wall and allows it to blend in.

Step 4

  • Allow the patcher mix to dry.
  • Drying times vary depending on the product and may take up to 48 hours.
  • Place tape in straight lines parallel to the edges of your dry plastered area.

Allow the patcher mix to dry.

Drying times vary depending on the product and may take up to 48 hours.

Place tape in straight lines parallel to the edges of your dry plastered area.

Step 5

  • Wet the sponge and begin slightly tapping the newly plastered area.
  • Moisten the area until the entire boxed in area is damp.

Wet the sponge and begin slightly tapping the newly plastered area.

Moisten the area until the entire boxed in area is damp.

Step 6

  • Add stucco finish with the tile trowel.
  • Once the cemented area is covered with the stucco finish, take the foam plastering trowel and spread stucco finish to the edges of the tape.
  • If the trowel is too dry to spread the finish, moisten it with the water from earlier.
  • Blend the finish into the surrounding tape.

Add stucco finish with the tile trowel.

Once the cemented area is covered with the stucco finish, take the foam plastering trowel and spread stucco finish to the edges of the tape.

If the trowel is too dry to spread the finish, moisten it with the water from earlier.

Blend the finish into the surrounding tape.

Step 7

  • Remove the tape and blend areas that may not match.
  • Allow time for the finish to dry and the wall will be restored to crack-free.

Remove the tape and blend areas that may not match.

Allow time for the finish to dry and the wall will be restored to crack-free.

Enjoy your repaired concrete fence wall. These steps can also be used on any other concrete surfaces that have cracks.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

Author

                                      with 2 other contributors 


                    Mariah Gonzales

Member since: 01/13/2022

164 Reputation

                                      1 Guide authored                  



                       Badges:
                       2

Team

                       Northern Arizona University, Team 1-4, Konrad Spring 2022                        

                                                  Member of Northern Arizona University, Team 1-4, Konrad Spring 2022 



                    NAU-KONRAD-S22S1G4                     


                                            2 Members                     


                                            1 Guide authored