Removing Seams In Concrete Block Walls

Start by grinding the top and bottom of the horizontal bed joints with an angle grinder photo 1.

Removing seams in concrete block walls.

Between mortar joints for cement block walls and around pipes where they enter or exit such as a water supply line or a sewer pipe. You only need to grind 3 4 in. This can diminish the appearance of your basement walls. Spray the cleaning solution onto the building surface and allow it to sit for several minutes.

Fill the holes and cracks as deeply as you can then scrape the top over with a trowel so the concrete can patch the wall together evenly. 1 trace the mortar joints surrounding the blocks you wish to remove using a marker. How to repair cinder block mortar joints. Apply concrete to any gaps in the blocks or mortar using a shovel.

2 apply the cleaning solution. Start at outside corners and work inward. Mix up new mortar. Efflorescence typically shows up better on darker concrete and occurs when the salts and other materials in the concrete make their way to the surface.

Apply mortar to vertical joints. Or if the surface is indoors you can use a spray bottle filled with water to rinse the surface thoroughly. Clean the joints with water. Concrete walls sometimes only leak periodically such as after a hard rain or during snow melts.

How to seal a leaking concrete wall. Hold the grinder with both hands to keep it steady and avoid grinding into the bricks. If you notice a white powdery film on your basement walls efflorescence is likely the culprit. Fill in the cracks or holes with concrete.

If the surface is outdoors you can use a hose to spray down the surface. Run the entire bead and then using your spray bottle filled with solvent or water depending upon the type of caulk you selected wet your finger and draw it down the joint to smooth and clean any excess. However some walls gush water through openings in the concrete. To remove efflorescence from your concrete block walls you will need a few handy tools and ingredients.

A high quality dehumidifier will help remove excess. To remove blocks you have to cut through the hardened mortar using saws designed for masonry work. Safety goggles cold chisel hammer masonry caulk wire brush mortar mix.