The KTSA Home Improvement Show with Martin Bomba airs every Saturday from 9-11 a.m. We will be sharing these questions and answers on our blog. Got a home improvement question of your own? Be sure to call in during the show!
Cement Patio Crack
What if you had a crack on your cement patio and you didn’t like the way the filler looked? That’s exactly what happened to a recent caller, who said her roofers dropped something and left a crack. They sealed it, but the caller just wasn’t happy with the appearance of her patio.
Unfortunately, the only way to make this filler look any better is to paint it over. Here are the steps for painting over a concrete crack on your patio.
- Determine how much paint you’re going to need.
- Go to your favorite big box store and purchase concrete paint and a roller.
- By completing these steps, you can make the cement and filler all the same texture.
Check out the full call:
Coating Call
Meanwhile, Robert called in asking about his cinder block home that he would like to treat with the spray-on ceramic-like coating he’s been seeing over at Roger’s Ranch. To get this updated look, he wanted to know if he could just go ahead and spray on the paint of if he would need to strip the existing paint first. We absolutely recommended that he remove the paint or apply a paint stripper to the surface.
Even with the paint stripped, there’s going to be areas that are sealed or coated that are not going to bond with the coating. We actually recommend stucco over cinderblock, but if you go this route, go ahead and get an edge started, then hit it with a pressure washer. Everything needs to be taken off the house first – it needs to be prepped and primed in order for the coating to get that grip.
Moss Woes
Joe called in next, asking about a green moldy type of moss growing on his siding. To remove this, we do not recommend pressure washing. We’ve been getting lots of reports of this substance on the Coastal Bend. First, you want to contain the encapsulate the biological agent with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Spray this mixture over the substance, and let it bubble over. Next, rinse off with a garden hose that has a spray nozzle attached, following up with a medium-bristle brush.
Here’s the full call:
Yellow Pine
George called in to ask about yellow pine, of which he has a little under his pier and beam foundation. He was concerned about any inhalation risks, but to our knowledge, the big concern about yellow pin is skin contact. You certainly don’t want it in your living space, but it’s okay to have under your pier and beam foundation. It’s not going to be releasing any VOCs that we know of.
Our final caller was Mike, who’s rebuilding a shower stall and wanted to know if his cement backboard would be sufficient as a vapor barrier. We told him yes, but to use a shower pan that comes up about 12 to 18 inches on both sides.
