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Fix it yourself

Concrete Mason repairs you can do yourself

6 concrete mason problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.

You can do
6
Pro-only
0
Typical time
120 min – 8 h
  1. 01

    Brick mailbox column leaning or crumbling

    Put a level on two faces and rock the column gently: a column that moves at the base has a footing or soil problem; one that is solid but crumbling at the top has a water problem.

    moderate 2–6 h· $40–120 in mortar, concrete and a cap

  2. 02

    Chimney mortar crumbling or deteriorating

    Inspect from the ground with binoculars first, then from a ladder set beside the chimney — not on the roof — and note whether the damage is a few joints or every joint.

    hard 3–8 h· $30–80 in mortar, sealant and repellent

  3. 03

    Concrete Patio Scaling and Flaking

    Pressure-wash the slab and scrape every loose flake with a wire brush until the surface is sound; resurfacer over loose concrete peels within a season.

    moderate 3–6 h· $60–200 in resurfacer and sealer

  4. 04

    Concrete Spalling

    Tap around each spall with a hammer: a hollow sound means more surface is about to come off — chisel back to solid, ringing concrete.

    moderate 2–5 h· $30–100 in patch, bonding agent and sealer

  5. 05

    Crumbling concrete steps

    Chisel away every loose piece until you hit solid concrete that rings when tapped; a patch on crumbling concrete falls off within a season.

    moderate 2–5 h· $30–80 in patch, bonding agent and sealer

  6. 06

    Exterior brick spalling and crumbling

    Find the water: spalling clusters below a leaking gutter, at a chimney, at ground level where the wall stays wet, or under a sealer or paint that trapped moisture — fix that first or the new bricks spall too.

    moderate 2–6 h· $40–150 in bricks, mortar and repellent

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