Your outdoor landscaping makes your first impression, it creates a relaxation zone for your family, and it can boost your property values. Landscaping involves lots of different elements including concrete. Hi, my name is Diane, and I love landscaping. However, I also love patios, magical pathways, sports courts and other concrete creations. Want help creating your fabulous outdoor space? Want help with concrete ideas in particular? Then, I would love to be there for you. I have a keen eye for decoration and have helped a lot of friends create their outdoor areas. I hope my tips and ideas can help you.
Barrier walls are a system of external walls meant to maintain a certain level of weather-tightness. They protect sections of your home/roof by preventing an attack from weather elements, such as excess moisture. Roof sections pitched at an angle of more than seventy degrees form perfect enclosures to create rooms that you can use as additional living space. If you have a concrete wall around such sections, you need to think about having a vapour barrier.
Concrete has many qualities, but it is neither insulated nor waterproof. A proper wall barrier meant to protect your pitched roof section from moisture will come in handy. Here is a guide to set one up:
Deal With the Damage
If you have a brand new wall protecting your pitched roof, then you can overlook this step. However, the knowledge is still worth gaining. Start by checking the concrete walls for any signs of damage. They may have cured improperly or had patches of bad quality mortar that made the wall wear down over time. Either way, you need to identify damaged sections and apply fresh concrete. Let it cure for two to three days before proceeding.
Clean the Concrete Wall
If you want to set a barrier wall against moisture, then you need surfaces that are free of oils and other forms of dirt that occur naturally. Concrete walls protecting pitched roof sections are prone to dirt because they are always exposed to dust. Use a pH-neutral cleaning solution and a soft-bristled brush to scrub the dirt from the walls.
Carry Out Necessary Repairs
Concrete requires lots of attention if you want to get the best out of it. After dealing with initial damage and cleaning the walls, you need to check for any cracks and fissures. Failure to spot and repair cracks appropriately means that you are leaving a way for moisture to pass. Therefore, you need to fill any holes and cracks with a joint sealant. Apply the sealant gently, using a putty knife until the hole is level with the rest of the wall's surface.
Lay the Moisture Barrier
Use the flat side of your mason's trowel to spread a mastic over the protective walls. Press the mastic gently with the trowel until it forms small grooves. After that, let the mastic settle and dry for about half an hour. Take your vapour barrier and spread it evenly on top of the mastic. Finish by trimming any excess barrier sheets on the edges and around electrical boxes.
Share5 August 2019
