Parging of a Basement

Preparation

• Before parging your basement, take the time to clean it up. Dust, dirt and debris can contribute to the parging being applied loosely, so sweep away any grime with a broom. Use a nylon scrub brush to get into the deep corners and crevices. If the walls are particularly dirty, scrub them with soap and water, and let them dry thoroughly.

Tools

• The only tools that you need to parge a basement wall are a bucket and trowel to hold and mix the cement. Depending on your preference, you also may use a texturing tool, like a rake, to give the cement a more textured appearance.

Plaster

• The plaster used in parging is made from a mixture of Portland cement, masonry sand and water. The ratio of Portland cement to masonry sand is about 8 to 7, but if you do not want to mix it yourself, you can simply purchase sand mix for this task, which is a basic building staple and available at hardware stores. Water is added to the mix until it is thoroughly damp, but still firm enough to hold its shape for a moment.

Process

• Mix up only a small amount of the plaster, as it starts to harden within 15 minutes after the water is added. Using small batches avoids wasting the plaster. The plaster is smoothed onto the basement wall using a trowel and then allowed to dry. One or two passes with the trowel flattens the plaster out, while a few more passes gives it a smoother texture. The plaster can be painted after it dries.