178 CHAPTER FOURTEEN
14–7 Parging (Plastering)
The material used to parge on exterior portions of founda-
tion walls below grades is a mixture of portland cement, fine
aggregates (sand), and water. A water-repellent admixture is
often added to the mix and is troweled or sprayed in place,
the most common thickness being about 1/2 inch. Com-
pounds with a cement base are also available from various
manufacturers.
On some projects, the specifications require parging
and the application of a coating of bituminous material in a
liquid form. The bituminous type of coating is discussed in
Section 14–6.
Estimating Parging. To determine the amount of
material required for parging, the estimator first checks
the specifications to determine exactly the type of mate-
rials required. The materials may be blended and mixed
on the job, or they may be preblended compounds.
Information concerning the specially formulated com-
pounds must be obtained from the manufacturer. The
job-mixed parging requires that the mix proportions be
determined. The next step is to determine the number of
square feet to be covered and the thickness. With this
information, the cubic feet required can be calculated, or
the number of gallons can be determined if the materials
are preblended.
The amount of labor will depend on the amount of
working space available and the application technique.
Labor costs will be higher when the materials are mixed on
the job, but the material cost will be considerably lower.
Equipment required includes a mixer, trowel or spray
accessories, scaffolding, planks, shovels, and pails. Water
must always be available for mixing purposes.14–8 Insulation
Insulation in light-frame construction may be placed
between the framing members (studs or joists) or nailed to
the rough sheathing. It is used in the exterior walls and the
ceiling of most buildings.FIGURE 14.5.Foundation Walls.FIGURE 14.6.Foundation Walls Requiring Dampproofing.