Similar to stucco, parging is a finishing technique used by masons to cover the surface of a masonry wall; however, instead of a traditional stucco mixture, they use a masonry-based mortar. As chimney masonry is specialized, you should go with a chimney company that is experienced in masonry work, like Ashbusters Charleston, who knows how to use the right bricks and mortar mixes to correctly do the job. Our masons at Ashbusters Charleston are trained extensively in all sorts of masonry work, including parging. Since many of our customers are unsure as to what the parging process is, we would like to tell you more about this type of masonry restoration and repair.
No matter what condition your current chimney is in we can help. We understand the anatomy of the system from top to bottom and can help with any type of repair.
According to the article “What is Parging?” from the informational website WiseGeek, parging can be done on new or existing masonry walls as well as residential homes or commercial facilities. What makes parging such a specialized masonry job is mixing the mortar. Made from a blend of lime, Portland cement, water, and masonry cement, the parging mortar can be very tricky to blend properly. You can try to mix your own parging mortar or even buy a pre-made parging mix from a home improvement or hardware store; however, if you add too much water, the parging will crack, and if you do not add enough water, the parging may not even stick to the wall. For these reasons, it is best to depend on professional masons like those at Ashbusters Charleston to mix the parging mortar since they are experienced enough to know exactly how to make the right mixture.
Once the parging mortar is ready, the masons from Ashbusters Charleston will apply it in a thin coat with a standard masonry trowel to a wet wall. Wet walls help the mortar adhere to the masonry. Our masons can give you whatever texture you desire, whether you want a heavily textured or a smooth wall. In order to give you a smooth wall, our masons will apply the parging mortar with a wet trowel. After the first coating is dry, another coat will be applied. Parging mortar is not only applied to interior and exterior walls, it can also be used to coat foundations, columns, and any surface made of bricks, stones, or concrete.
As with most any kind of masonry restoration, there are both benefits and disadvantages to parging. Economical and easy to apply to cover unattractive masonry surfaces, parging is also used to cover cracks, water damage, voids, and holes. You can also improve the energy efficiency of your home with parging because it can help to seal air leaks in a concrete wall. Another plus to parging is you can paint over the dried application, allowing you to coordinate with your decor. As for its disadvantages, the main problem with parging is it can be used to cover structural damage, and sometimes home sellers will apply parging themselves to hide serious problems before putting their homes on the market. However, a good home inspector can see through this facade, inform you of the true condition of the problem, and save you from purchasing a house with structural damage.
If you have questions about parging or other types of masonry repair or restoration, contact Ashbusters Charleston today. Our experienced masons are on hand to assist you with any masonry concerns you may have.