How to Repair Spalled Concrete Basement Walls

Spalled concrete is characterized by a chipped and pitted surface.

The steel reinforcing bars within the concrete begin to corrode and expand, causing the breakage on the surface concrete. If caught early, spalling can be repaired, removing the need for complete concrete replacement.

1. Remove any loose concrete from the spalled surface. Chipped or splintered pieces can be removed using a cold chisel and hammer.

2. Cut a square around the spalled concrete three-eighth of an inch deep using a circular saw.

3. Use the chisel and hammer to break away the concrete contained in the cut area. Expose the reinforcing bars beneath the surface of the concrete and break away any concrete attached to the bars.

4. Brush any rust away from the bars using a wire brush. Examine the ends of the bars still covered in concrete. If the rust continues, cut and clear away the concrete until you reach an unrusted section.

5. Paint the rust-cleared bars with an anti-rust paint. Use two coats of paint applied 10 minutes apart to provide adequate rust protection.

6. Brush a layer of epoxy adhesive to the cleared concrete surface. Allow the adhesive to dry until it’s tacky but not wet. The adhesive will help to create a bond between the old concrete and the new.

7. Mix a batch of concrete in a large bucket. Use a permeable concrete that allows the concrete to breathe and prevent further spalling from trapped water. The concrete should be mixed thickly enough to not sag when placed onto the vertical surface of the wall. Use a drill with a paddle bit to mix the concrete.

8. Fill the hole in the concrete with the new concrete mix using a trowel. Pack the hole tightly, leaving no gaps that may weaken the wall.

9. Use the trowel to smooth the surface of the concrete patch with the surrounding surface of the wall.

10. Cover the new concrete with a plastic sheet to keep the water in the concrete from evaporating too quickly as the concrete cures. Lift the sheet after 48 hours and spray the concrete with a fine mist of water to ensure that it remains wet enough. Remove the sheet after two weeks and then allow the concrete to cure completely for another week to 10 days.

Warning

Protective work gloves, safety goggles and a face mask should be worn when working with concrete to protect from inhalation and chemically induced skin surface burns.