Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 7/29/2009

Question
Bruce- I have 2 questions:
1) I have a front porch with a concrete block foundation.  Is there anything I could paint/texture it with to help disguise the blocks.  I recently had the porch itself concrete stamped and it looks like slate. The stamping is beautiful, but the blocks really stick out like a soar thumb now.

2) I need to put new floor covering in a lake house that is built on a concrete slab.  We run a dehumidifier most of the time during humid months because of moisture coming up through the carpet. Is there such a thing as a sealer that could be put on the concrete to help with the moisture problem before we recarpet?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Beth, sure you can get some stucco mix at your local home depot, lowes or lumber yard.  Just mix it with water to the consistency of cake frosting and apply it to the wall with a trowel trying to keep it fairly smooth.  Let it dry for an hour or so and then take a big sponge and a bucket of water, dip the sponge in the water, wring about half the water out of the sponge and then slightly rub the sponge on the stucco in circular motions and develop a texture you like.  It's pretty simple to do and once you get the texture you want just keep replicating it over the entire wall....As far as your concrete slab goes, there are several good waterproofing sealers available at home depot in the paint department.  Read the instructions of them and find one whose properties suit your conditions and needs.   I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com