Parging is a technique used in masonry to apply a smooth or textured coat of mortar to the surface of concrete walls, foundations, or masonry blocks. It serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.
Functional Purposes: Parging provides a protective layer against weather elements like rain, snow, and wind, helping to prevent moisture infiltration and subsequent damage to the underlying masonry.
It can improve the thermal insulation of a building by sealing cracks and gaps that might allow air and moisture penetration.
Aesthetic Purposes: Parging gives walls a uniform, finished look, hiding imperfections, cracks, or inconsistencies in the masonry.
It allows for various textures and finishes, from smooth to rough, depending on the desired aesthetic effect.
Is Parging a Solution?
Often, parging is done as a solution to the deterioration of an existing surface, usually around the foundation.
When the inside and outside temperatures of a house are different, condensation occurs within the wall, just as it does on a single pane window. Bricks, blocks and concrete are porous and can “breathe” and so let that moisture out, if it is not excessive.
However, water splashes up onto the lower portion of walls or sometimes pools against the bottom of the wall. It is absorbed into the brick, block or concrete adding to the moisture content within the wall.
This is particularly problematic in cold climates when the moisture still in the wall freezes and thaws and thus expands and contracts. This results in the surface breaking off, pulling out salts and turning white, and general deterioration to the integrity and appearance.
Coating this area with mortar does offer a temporary solution by covering up the prior damage but the basic problem still exists. Water pooling and splashing against the parging will cause it to break off from the original surface repeating the issues of deteriorated structure and appearance.
Finally, a Lasting Solution to the Problem – SurGuard Coatings
The solution to the problem requires a coating that will prevent water being absorbed by the masonry while letting moisture out. It needs to hold the pooling and splashing water, the snow and sleet from entering the masonry, while at the same time, letting the natural ability of the brick, block or concrete to breathe so it can release any moisture from condensation within.
SurGuard was developed to address this exact issue. It is a water based acrylic high-build coating that prevents water from entering while still allowing the surface behind it to breathe.
It was initially developed to protect high-end architectural structures from deterioration, where parging or a quick paint job were not viable solutions.
Has SurGuard Been Tested?
SurGuard coatings have protected buildings in several areas worldwide including the Middle East, Asia, Central America, and the United States. This extensive use has proven their effectiveness in various temperatures, humidity levels, and weather conditions. For over 50 years, these coatings have withstood the harshest elements without failure.
Now, after 50 years of global success, SurGuard is available in Canada, applied exclusively by Toronto-based A&A Masonry.
Economical Professional Application
Professionally prepared and applied, SurGuard Coatings can protect your home or commercial structure for years to come. Not only does it cost less than parging, it will last far longer. It can do that because it actually handles the problem.
It can be applied to brick and stucco houses and while it may cost a bit more than a regular paint job, it will far outlast paint, making it much more cost-effective. The same holds true for block or concrete buildings in commercial or industrial settings.
Don’t parge it. Preserve it.
For more details, visit SurGuard Coatings. Reach out to us online or give us a call at 1-866-616-2724 for a FREE CONSULTATION for your property. We provide professional coating services in a variety of colours in Southern Ontario.
