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If your habitation has concrete, you may notice holes forming due to strong conditions or rodents. Nigh holes can be fixed with a quality mortar mix, although you should use one with a crushed stone aggregate to fill holes over 1 in (2.5 cm) deep. Treat holes as soon as you find them so y'all can prevent water and rodents from further damaging the concrete and getting into your home. Earlier attempting to make full a pigsty, clear out loose concrete and other debris. Then, mix the mortar, fill up in the hole, and level it to blend it in with the surrounding construction. Concrete takes time to cure, so keep the patch moist for several days for a stronger fix. Patching concrete holes is a simple weekend projection and it tin help protect your home for decades.

  1. 1

    Wear a dust mask and safety glasses earlier cleaning the physical. [ane] It is a dusty job, so e'er put on protective gear before working on the damaged area. Concrete releases plenty of grit when yous scrap it. That also means small fragments could come back toward your face while you work. Have rubber gloves available as well, although yous won't need them until yous begin mixing new concrete.[2]

    • If you're working indoors, ventilate the area as much equally possible to deal with the dust. Open nearby doors and windows. Plough on any available ventilation fans and vacuum upward grit when you lot're done.
    • Since concrete can produce a lot of grit, consider protecting nearby areas with a plastic tarp.

  2. two

    Apply a hammer and chisel to remove loose concrete from the hole. Knock away the cracked and crumbling physical effectually the hole. Besides, attempt to flatten out the bottom of the pigsty to create a stable, level surface for the new patching material. Since a thicker patch is more than likely to concluding a long fourth dimension, effort to brand the pigsty up to i in (ii.v cm) deep if information technology isn't already deeper than that.[3]

    • If the hole is already greater than 1 in (ii.five cm) deep, don't try to make it deeper. Instead, clean information technology out and choose an appropriate patching compound.
    • If possible, make the lesser part of the hole slightly wider than the elevation office. You can do this by holding the chisel diagonally to chip away at the bottom edges of the hole. Making the lesser part a little bigger helps lock the patch into the existing concrete.
    • You could also utilize a circular saw with a masonry bit to cut out damaged concrete.[4]

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  3. 3

    Brush or vacuum loose debris out of the hole. For a unproblematic way to clear out loose droppings, scrub the concrete with a wire castor. If y'all have a store vacuum, use it for a faster fashion to collect the debris. Make certain the hole is completely clear of droppings before attempting to patch it.[5]

    • Eliminate all debris and so it doesn't become in the way of the patching material. Anything left in the hole will weaken the patch!

  4. 4

    Wash the concrete with a cleaner if you lot need to flush out loose debris. Buy a commercial concrete cleaner and pour it in the hole. Scrub information technology with a wire castor to help piece of work the cleaner into the remaining physical. Check for any loose concrete kicked up past the brush and remove it.[half-dozen]

    • Commercial concrete cleaners are very useful for preparing physical. They eliminate tough stains, dirt, or debris that tin can weaken the new patch. Droppings affects the concrete'due south consistency, so the patching cloth may not bond properly or be equally strong equally it should be.
    • If the concrete hole looks make clean, you lot can just spray it with water.

  5. 5

    Rinse the concrete with make clean h2o and let it dry. Spray it with water from a hose or pour water over it. Brand sure all of the debris is gone. And so, soak up the excess moisture with clean rags or paper towels. Wait for any standing water to completely evaporate before attempting to patch the hole. This may take xxx minutes to an hour, depending on the conditions and how much water is left.[7]

    • Whatsoever water left over will weaken the concrete patch as much every bit loose debris would. Give it plenty of time to dry!

  6. 6

    Spray the pigsty with water if it's more than i in (2.five cm) deep. Removing the droppings from a large hole is oft a niggling challenging. In most cases, you lot tin use a brush or vacuum to get about of the debris. If that isn't an option, fill the hole with water. Spray it down with a hose or pour water into it until it overflows, flushing out the debris.[8]

    • Call back to widen the pigsty past removing loose concrete start. Nigh of the time, this will allow you to castor or vacuum out the debris.
    • Keep washing out the pigsty until you're sure information technology looks clean. Spotter for the water to stay clear without any debris in information technology. And then, soak up as much water every bit possible and let the pigsty air dry.

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  1. 1

    Fill holes with a mortar mix instead of regular concrete. When you lot shop for store-bought concrete, yous will see a multifariousness of different options. New concrete can't bond properly with the old physical, so you will have to get something specifically meant for repairs. Select a mortar mix with sand for a hole less than 1 in (2.5 cm) deep and a mix with gravel for a pigsty deeper than that. The mortar mix oft comes in 60 lb (27 kg) bags, which make nearly i⁄three  cu ft (0.0094 grand3) of physical.[9]

    • A 60 lb (27 kg) purse fills a hole about 1 ft (0.30 yard) long, 3 ft (0.91 m) wide, and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep. Unless you lot're doing many repairs, a single bag will most likely be plenty.
    • If y'all're attempting to make your ain mortar, combine 1 function Portland cement, 3 parts masonry sand or gravel, and water.

  2. 2

    Brush a bonding agent onto the concrete. A bonding agent is a liquid that helps join new and old concrete. Put on work gloves if you haven't already. Dip a paintbrush in and spread it throughout the hole. Glaze the bottom and sides of the hole with an even, consistent layer.[x]

    • Note that the bonding agent can often be added after you take poured the physical into the hole. Check the manufacturer's instructions for more information.
    • You may besides exist able to mix the bonding agent in with the concrete. This is usually washed by replacing l% to 80% of the water with the bonding agent.
    • If y'all don't apply the bonding agent now, lightly dampen the concrete with a moist sponge. Brand sure in that location isn't whatever standing water in the pigsty.

  3. iii

    Pour the mortar mix into a saucepan filled with water. Add together the water to the mixing bucket offset to reduce the corporeality of grit released when you drop in the mortar. Generally, use almost 10  fl oz (300 mL) of lukewarm h2o for every 5 lb (two.3 kg) of mortar mix you plan on using. If you utilize too much water, the mortar will be too soupy and won't set properly.[11]

    • Err on the side of caution when mixing the mortar. You can ever add more water, but y'all can't remove it. The only mode to deal with a runny mix is to add together more than mortar.
    • Remember to check the manufacturer's recommendations on how much water to add together. Factor in the liquid bonding agent if you lot plan on adding any to the mix.
    • Make sure yous're wearing safety glasses, a ventilated mask, long jeans, and gloves when mixing mortar.[12]

  4. iv

    Mix the mortar for 3 to five minutes until information technology forms a thick putty. Stir the mortar around in the bucket with a hoe or another tool. You tin can also apply a paddle attachment, which is a metal mixing rod that plugs into the cease of a power drill. Continue mixing the mortar while checking its consistency. It is ready for use once it reaches the consistency of a thick, spreadable peanut butter.[xiii]

    • Make adjustments to get the mortar to the proper consistency. Add water gradually to thin it out, mixing it for a infinitesimal after each improver to check its consistency again.

  5. 5

    Layer mortar in the hole with a trowel. You can use a putty pocketknife to spread the mixture over a small pigsty. Work the mixture into the hole with the tip of the tool. Cover the sides of the hole first, then begin filling the center of the hole. Effort spreading the mortar about i⁄4  in (0.64 cm) thick each time. If you lot wait for each layer to dry out before adding the side by side ane, you tin can create a stronger patch.[14]

    • Layering mortar is but really useful if you're working with a deep hole, such as one more 1 in (2.five cm) deep. If you're fixing a shallow hole, you might as well finish information technology in one go.
    • Proceed the patching material roughly level with the surrounding concrete. Adding more than than you need is okay. You will accept a run a risk to eliminate the excess earlier it dries.
    • Patching a vertical surface, such as a wall, is pretty much the same equally patching a hole on the ground. Push the mortar deep into the hole at first, then add more layer by layer. It volition stay in place.

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  1. 1

    Drag a lath over the hole to remove excess mortar. Select a board that is at least 1 ft (0.30 m) longer than the pigsty. Lay it across the hole on one side. And then, drag it over the hole. While dragging it, movement it dorsum and forth in a sawing motion to flatten the patch.[15]

    • The board will collect excess mortar and then you can polish out the patch and keep information technology level with the surrounding concrete.
    • For vertical surfaces, endeavour dragging a board down over the pigsty and then going back over the patch with a trowel. If you can't employ a lath, merely utilise a trowel or bladder instead.

  2. 2

    Smooth out the remaining mortar with a trowel or float. If you have a bladder, which is a apartment-bottomed tool designed for smoothing physical, attempt using it on the mortar. Move the tool dorsum and forth across the mortar a few times. After a few passes, the mortar patch will look apartment and blend in well with the surrounding physical.[16]

    • Make certain the patch is level with the concrete effectually it. Utilize a wood board to remove any excess before smoothing the mortar out and letting it harden.

  3. three

    Cover the patch with a plastic sheet to protect it from damage. The patch will be pretty vulnerable until it has had a chance to cure. Purchase a concrete insulation barrier, spread it out across the patch, and pin it in place. Weight it downwardly with heavy objects similar bricks. If you're fixing a wall, utilize a waterproof record to keep the canvas flat against the concrete.[17]

    • Continue other people away from the concrete until it has had a gamble to cure. Don't allow anyone walk or drive over it, for instance.

  4. iv

    Wait at least 6 hours, then mist the patch with lukewarm water. Quick-drying patching material unremarkably takes most 4 to half-dozen hours to solidify. After it has become difficult to the bear upon, lift upwardly the plastic sheet. Use a spray bottle or a hose to lightly dampen the concrete with lukewarm water. Adding the water causes the concrete to continue curing, making the patch even stronger.[18]

    • The drying fourth dimension tin vary depending on the conditions and production used, so check the manufacturer's recommendations before misting.

  5. 5

    Continue misting the concrete twice a solar day for at least vii days while it dries. Many quick-drying compounds may cure at a faster rate, so consult the manufacturer's instructions for more information. Set aside a certain time each morning and evening then you won't forget to mist the patching material as it sets. Spray it each time with a lite amount of lukewarm h2o. The patch continues to abound stronger as it cures.[19]

    • Some products may require you lot to proceed the patch covered for upward to 28 days while misting each twenty-four hours. Even though this may seem similar a long time, information technology is worth doing if the manufacturer recommends it.
    • Once the concrete has finished curing, remove the plastic sheet and test it out. It should be level with the surrounding concrete and experience hard to the touch.

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  • If your physical patch sticks out after it has cured, roll a concrete grinder over it. Wear downward the concrete until it is flat and level with the old concrete effectually it.

  • Yous tin also repair damaged steps and slabs by following the same steps. However, yous may demand to build a wooden frame to pour and hold concrete in a specific surface area.

  • Since concrete is porous, information technology is pretty piece of cake to paint. Scroll a masonry primer and pigment over it.

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  • Concrete releases grit that can exist irritating to breathe in. E'er wearable a grit mask, condom spectacles, and piece of work gloves.

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Things You lot'll Need

  • Mortar mix
  • Plastic bucket or wheelbarrow
  • Hoe, shovel, or alternative mixer
  • Trowel
  • Woods board
  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Wire brush or vacuum
  • Clean water
  • Hose
  • Plastic concrete insulation sail
  • Misting bottle
  • Bonding agent
  • Paper towels
  • Concrete cleaner (optional)
  • Dust mask
  • Safety spectacles
  • Work gloves

References

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