Home Improvement for Women

A portland cement and water mixture is fine for foundation and walkway cracks, but use a gravel mix for repairing large cracks on driveways. A gravel mixture is made from 1 part portland cement, 2 parts sand, and 3 parts gravel. When combined, it should be the consistency of a thick paste, like peanut butter.

WHAT YOU NEED: Garden hose with spray nozzle, wire brush, chisel, hammer, safety glasses, cement adhesive, portland cement and water mixture or gravel mixture, putty knife or trowel and plastic drop cloth.

HOW TO GET IT DONE:

1. Thoroughly clean the crack with the spray nozzle of your house. Brush out any remaining debris with a wire brush.
2. Open the crack with a chisel and hammer. This works on the same principle as opening a crack in plaster, which I talked about earlier. This extra depth and width increases the strength of the repair job. Wear safety glasses during this procedure!
3. Brush cement adhesive into the crack.
4. Apply the patch mixture with a putty knife or trowel. Force the mixture into the crack as much as possible. Then smooth it off so it is level with the original concrete.
5. Allow the patch to dry for about 2 hours. Then cover the area with a piece of plastic drop cloth.
6. Keep the area covered for about 5 days. Lift the covering once each day and sprinkle the area with water.

*Note: If the patch is on a driveway, don’t drive a car over the patch for at least 5 days. This gives the patch time to dry and cure before carrying heavy loads.

The large crack has been fixed! and you did it youurself Barbara’s Way!

Maintaining the exterior of your house and it’s grounds includes taking care of patios, driveways and the exposed area of your home’s foundation. Inevitably, cracks will occur in these areas, and they should be filled and repaired before they become too big to fix.

For fine concrete cracks, you can try using a new product on the market, which is specifically made for filling in small cracks. It is a cement product that is sold under various brand names, but generically it is called -simply enough-premixed concrete patch. It comes in tubs an tubes and needs no special preperation. Basically, you squeeze it into a clean opening and let it cure according to the package directions. You can also repair hairline cracks with a grout made of portland cement and water. (Portland cement is a type of cement made by heating and then pulverizong limestone and clay to a sandy consistency. It’s basic ingredient is concrete.) Add enough water to the cement to form a thick paste and follow my directions.

WHAT YOU NEED: Garden hose with spray nozzle, premixed concrete patch (usually sold in a tube or tub) or portland cement and water mixture, putty knife or towel, plastic drop cloth and scrap piece of 1×4 lumber.

HOW TO GET IT DONE:

1. Clean the crack out by using the most powerful setting on your hose’s spray nozzle. This will also moisten the concrete, which will prevent it from drawing the water from the grout and drying out the mixture. Although the old concrete should be moist, no water should be standing on the surface or in the crack when the concrete patch is applied.
2. Apply the concrete patch or mixture of portland cement and water with a putty knife or trowel. Force the patch into the crack as much as possible.
3. Then, using the scrap lumber, smooth it so it is level with the original concrete.
4. Allow the patched area to dry for about 2 hours. Then cover the area with a piece of plastic drop cloth.
5. Keep the area covered for about 5 days. Lift the covering once each day and sprinkle the area with water.

Now you have patched a hairline crack in  your concrete, Barbara’s Way!

You need a good weather day for this project. Avoid staining the deck in extreme (hot, cold, or windy) weather. Wear old clothes, be sure to wear safety glasses especially when pressure washing, and wear rubber gloves to prevent your skin from getting stained.

 What you need:

Rubber gloves, safety glasses, warm weather, bleach, long-handled bristle scrub brush, deck cleaner, small bucket or paint roller tray, wood stain, large paintbrush or long-handled roller and small paintbrush.

How to get it done:

Step 1:

Put on rubber gloves and safety glasses. Use warm water, bleach, and a long-handled bristle scrub brush to scrub and clean the mildewed and particularly dirty areas of the deck. Apply the deck cleaner, following the manufacturers instructions, and then let the deck dry completely.

Step 2:

Pour the wood stain into a small bucket or paint roller tray. Using the large paintbrush or long-handled roller, apply a few strokes, working quickly to roll or brush the stain onto the deck. Apply the stain lightly and evenly without overlapping the edges. Use the small paintbrush for hard to reach places, like the deck railings and corners.

Step 3:

Allow the stain to set for at least 24 hours.

Then sit back and enjoy a cold drink on your newly stained deck. And, you did it yourself Barbara’s Way!