What Is Parging?

Parging is a thin coat of cement-based mortar spread over the exposed concrete or block of a foundation. It smooths out rough or patched surfaces and gives the base of your house a clean, even finish where the wall meets the ground.
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What parging does

Parging serves two jobs at once:
Looks: it hides rough concrete, form lines, and patches so the foundation looks finished.
Protection: it adds a sacrificial layer that takes the wear from weather and moisture instead of the structural concrete underneath.
It isn’t waterproofing on its own, but it helps shed surface water and keeps the wall tidy.

When parging needs attention

Because it’s a thin coat exposed to the weather, parging wears out before the wall does. In Ottawa’s climate, freeze-thaw cycles eventually cause:
Cracking and hairline splits
Flaking or peeling away from the wall
Spalling, where chunks break off and leave pits
When you see bare concrete showing through, it’s time to repair or recoat.

What it’s made of

Most parging is a sand-and-cement mortar. For walls that move or stay damp, a flexible acrylic parging lasts longer. Not sure parging is even the right finish? Compare the alternatives to parging.

Get your parging repaired

If the parging on your foundation is cracked, flaking, or missing, we can patch or recoat it.
Get a free parging quote → · 613-920-4558 · Parging in Ottawa