The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

First Aid For The Ailing Houses

Another method that gives excellent results is worth trying as a remedy for a sandy concrete wall or for sandy stucco: Instead of application with a trowel, the cement mixture is thrown so forcibly against the wall that fairly deep penetration occurs*. The old cement or stucco must be wet at the time of application. Three coats are applied. The first is a mixture of 7 parts of portland cement and 3 of sand, with enough water to produce the consistency of paint. An ordiniry straw whisk broom is dipped in this, and the mixture ,'icked up by it is thrown against the wall with a sharp snap of the wrist, the whisk broom being held edge on, not sideways. This is continued until the defect or the entire wall is covered. The second coat is cement and sand in equal parts, with water to make a somewhat thicker mixture. The third coat is 3 parts of cement and 7 parts of sand, with water to make a thin paste. These coats are applied in the same manner, each coat having 8 hours for setting before applying the next. The cement mixture for this treatment should be used fresh; only a small pailful should be mixed at a time.

Bolting to Concrete To bolt shelves and other things to concrete, use bolts that hold by side pressure; they can be had at a hardware store. Holes for them are cut with a drill and hammer, or with a pneumatic attachment for the electric drill. When the concrete is thin, as with the side of a concrete block, toggle bolts can be used, or masonry rivets which expand.

CONCRETE REPAIRS

In repairing cracks and breaks in concrete, these points must be observed:
The edges to which new concrete or mortar is to be applied must be rough; the new will not stick to the old without providing roughnesses around which it can harden. The old surface must also be cleaned of loose particles.

A crack must be opened by digging with a cold chisel to provide space for working-in the mortar.

In cutting out a crack or a break, the inner (or under) part should be made as wide as the surface (wider, with a vertical surface) so that the new mortar or concrete will become locked in.

The old concrete surface should be wet thoroughly to prevent water in the new mortar from being absorbed by the old, dry concrete.

A patch should be kept damp for several days to allow the new cement to cure; should it dry too rapidly, it will be weak and sandy.