If you have a basement with unfinished walls, you might be thinking about parging them. You’ve seen other homeowners do it, but you’re not quite sure why. What is parging and does your basement even need it?
What is Parging?
First of all, parging is a technique used by masons to finish or coat a wall (usually a foundation or basement wall in your home). It’s a mortar made up of lime, water, and cement. It protects masonry walls from the elements and provides a final gloss to an unfinished surface.
Though you can try your hand at a parging job yourself, we always recommend a professional mason help you with your project instead. If done incorrectly, a bad parging job could lead to moisture problems in the very foundation it was meant to protect!
How Can Parging Benefit My Home?
Poured-concrete and concrete-block foundations can benefit from parging’s barrier between it and inclement weather. You can also use parging to hide imperfections in your walls or create a uniform surface over block walls or cement grooves.
One of the cool things about parging is that you can decide how you want it to look. Do you want a textured wall or a smooth one? After the parging is applied, you can paint it over with whatever color you’d prefer in your newly improved basement. It’s a great way to revamp your space while also adding an extra defense against damages.
Another benefit of parging is that it can improve the overall energy efficiency of your home. Some walls can suffer from leaks and/or holes that allow the cold weather to seep into your basement. By parging your exterior and interior walls you can prevent unnecessary energy use.
Despite its durability, your parging may crack over time. Luckily, it’s easy to keep on top of a good parging job. Professional masons can complete patch work quickly and without too much disruption to your daily routine.
Is Parging for You?
Does your basement need parging? Though it’s not essential, adding it to your walls can be a great way to maintain the integrity of your home’s foundation. It’s also an excellent upgrade from the ugly walls you’ve been meaning to spruce up.
Have more questions? Talk to a qualified mason today to discuss how your home can benefit from parging! We’re always here to help.