Exterior Fieldstone Foundation Repair
Many homes built before the early 20th century have foundations built out of fieldstone and mortar. Over the course of time, however, cracks will begin to appear in the foundation, and will need to be repaired. Taking the time to do this small maintenance task can prevent major problems in the future, as even small cracks can allow water to leak into your house and cause more damage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Brush
- Shop-vac
- Mortar mix
- Water
- Putty knife
- Jointer, tongue depressor or flat piece of plastic
- Trowel
- Wet sponge
- Paint or sealant
Instructions
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1
Chip away the area around the crack with a hammer and chisel, going 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch deep.
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2
Clean the crack with a shop-vac or stiff wire brush, removing all dust and debris from the crack.
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3
Mix up a fresh batch of mortar, following the instructions on the packaging.
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4
Fill the crack with the mortar, using a putty knife. Pack the mortar tightly so that the crack is completely filled.
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5
Let the mortar set. You want it to be solid, but still be soft enough that it is malleable. Read the instructions on the packaging for drying times.
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6
Pack the mortar deeper into the crack, then smooth the surface with a jointer, tongue depressor or flat piece of plastic.
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7
Clean off any excess mortar with a trowel, and wipe down the stone with a damp sponge.
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8
Paint the exterior of the foundation or cover it with a sealant like DRYLOK if desired.
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References
- Photo Credit structure, stone, wild stone image by Oleg Guryanov from Fotolia.com
