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How to Patch Holes in Concrete
Most narrow cracks in concrete -- up to 1/4-in. wide -- can be successfully patched using the caulk-tube masonry patchers. Check the color of the patcher: some concrete patchers are white and will stand out against the natural gray color of the concrete. Brands we've used successfully include DAP and UGL. Remember, to reduce the amount of patch product needed and control the cost of the repair, fill any crack with sand or fiberglass insulation, up to about 1/4-in. from the surface, then complete the repair with patching compound. Follow label directions and observe temperature and other label information to ensure a successful repair.

If the crack is in a basement wall or floor, and water is entering through the crack, first try to adjust rain gutters and the grade of the soil to divert water away from the basement wall. It is easier to divert water away from the foundation, via rain gutters and improved grade or lawn slope, than to make any foundation wall waterproof. When you have dried up the water as much as possible, clean the crack so it is free of debris and fill the crack with a fast-setting hydraulic cement such as UGL's Drylok Fast Plug. The crack area must be clean but need not be dry when you apply the patcher. This product must be mixed with water, because the chemistry is such that it cannot be offered as a ready-mix product. When the concrete patcher sets, seal the leak area with a concrete waterproofing product.

Patching Holes in Concrete

For patching holes or other damage in concrete, you must use a latex concrete bonder to ensure a bond between the old and new concrete surfaces. You can buy the product in plastic bottles, with names such as UGL's Drylok Latex Bonding Agent or Quikcrete Concrete Bonding Adhesive. The latex bonder will also be used on the home interior to bond new plaster patches to old plaster.

If you buy a concrete patcher kit in a plastic pail, check the label to see if the latex bonding agent is included. If it is not, buy the bonding agent separately and add it to the concrete mix as per directions. In addition to adding the latex bonder to the concrete mix, use a paint brush to coat the old concrete surfaces you want to repair. Let the bonder tack slightly, but not set completely, before applying the patching material.

Written by Gary Branson.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright HouseNet, Inc.

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