How To Repair Old Terra Cotta Patio

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Terracotta pots are an asset to many home gardens, but not when they're cracked and broken. Before you pick up a new pot from your local gardening store, cheque around your dwelling house for a few uncomplicated repair supplies. Within a twenty-four hours or so, you lot might go your favorite terracotta pots back in working order again!

1
Motion your pot to a well-ventilated area. Epoxy fumes are no joke, and are no fun to breathe in. Observe an open, well-ventilated space where you can repair your pot so you don't have to inhale any nasty chemicals.^[1]
- A room with several open windows tin work, or you tin can repair it outside.
2

Wipe down the cleaved shards with a textile to remove whatsoever dirt. Catch a clean cloth and castor off any obvious dirt or grime from your terracotta pot so the pieces fit together snugly. It's okay if your pieces are still a little dusty afterwards—you'll probably be filling your pots with soil, anyway.^[ii]

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three
Stir equal parts of epoxy and hardener together. Pour a blueberry-sized amount of both epoxy resin and hardener on a newspaper plate or dish. Grab a toothpick and mix them both together before you start reconstructing your pot.^[3]
- Check the instructions on your epoxy packages beforehand. Some glues might come pre-mixed, then yous don't have to worry about stirring them together.
- Silicone caulk is also a expert option for repairing a broken terracotta pot. Y'all tin as well buy caulk in a color that best matches your pot!^[4]
4
Mix colored clay powder into the epoxy mixture then it matches your pot. Scoop a small spoonful of powdered clay and mix it in with the epoxy. This helps the epoxy blend in well with your terracotta pot, creating a more seamless terminate.^[5]
- You tin can find powdered dirt online, or at your local ceramics or craft shop.
5
Spread the epoxy over the cracked border with a toothpick. Dip a clean toothpick into the epoxy mixture and spread information technology forth the base section of the fissure. Go along dipping and spreading the epoxy in a thin layer along the scissure, then your broken shards have no problem sticking together.^[6]
- Yous only need to spread epoxy on the bottom portion of your pot.
- Don't worry if you use likewise much epoxy—yous can e'er wipe off the excess with an acetone-soaked towel or cloth.^[7]
6

Press the broken piece into the glue and agree it for several seconds. Grab the broken section and center it exactly over the epoxy, as though you're putting together a puzzle. Hold the shard in identify for several seconds with your fingers, or secure it in identify with a metal clench.^[viii]
7
Allow the epoxy dry out overnight so it can cure completely. Double-cheque the instructions on your epoxy bottle to come across how much time it needs to dry out and cure. Some products need at to the lowest degree one night to cure completely.^[9]
- Don't use your pot until the epoxy is completely dried and cured.
8

Sand downwards the surface with fine sandpaper to make it shine and flat. Catch a sheet of super fine-grit sandpaper and rub along the glued seam of your pot. Work away any imperfections or inconsistencies, and then your pot feels smooth and seamless. At this point, you lot'll exist ready to use your pot again!^[10]

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i

Grit off the pieces of your pot with a clean cloth. Go over the sides and edges of your terracotta pot with a rag, cleaning away any leftover grit and grime. Sometimes, dirt gets stuck in the cleaved cracks and makes the pot more than tricky to repair.^[11]
two
Fit the broken slice of terracotta into the correct spot. Adapt the cleaved shard carefully, lining upwards the broken edges exactly with the bottom of the pot. Bank check that the piece is steady before removing your hand.^[12]
- Depending on the intermission, you may need to hold the broken shard in place.
3
Pencil in dotted marks on both sides of the terracotta crack. Marking each dot about ¹⁄_four to ¹⁄₂ in (0.64 to 1.27 cm) away from the broken seam. Infinite out these dots about 1 in (ii.5 cm) or so apart, like you're sketching out a row of eyelets on a pair of shoes.^[13]
- Substantially, you'll be threading the wire through these marks to "sew" the pot back together.
4
Drill into the pencil marks with a ¹⁄_viii in (0.32 cm) masonry drill bit. Install a thin masonry bit in your drill and drill into each dot. Set your drill to a loftier setting, so you don't accept whatever difficulty getting through the terracotta.^[14]
- Don't use a standard drill bit for this—you don't want to damage your equipment or pot.
5
Cut a length of copper wire into several 3 in (vii.6 cm) pieces. Lay out a department of copper wire, measuring and marking every 3 in (7.half-dozen cm). Snip off these curt sections of wire with a pair of wire cutters, and set the pieces aside.^[15]
- This wire will exist the "thread" that sews your pot back together.
half-dozen

String the wire through 2 holes above and below the crack. Slide 1 end of the wire through the top hole, and the other end into the bottom hole. Continue the wire even while you thread information technology, so fifty-fifty pieces of wire are going through the pot. Repeat this procedure with each set of drilled holes along the broken seam.^[xvi]
7

Twist the wires together along the within of the pot. Grab a pair of pliers and twist the wires together into a coil. Do your all-time to make this every bit tight equally possible, then the pot stays together.^[17]
8
Button the twisted wires confronting the inner edge of the pot. Press forth the coiled wires until they're snug against the inner wall of your terracotta pot. This way, your pot is much more probable to stay together!^[18]
- Once you've twisted and pushed in all your wires, you can use your pot again.
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If your terra cotta pot is shattered into many pieces, it might be worth getting a new pot.
Some people notice that gorilla glue works well for repairing pots. You lot can apply this but like the epoxy.^[19]
If your terracotta pot is simply cracked, you can fill in the cracks with several layers of joint compound. Then, y'all can sand over the dried compound and spray waterproof sealant on pinnacle.^[20]

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Always wear rubber goggles when you lot use power tools.^[21]

Things You'll Need

Epoxy (resin and hardener) or silicon caulk
Cloth
Toothpick
Powdered clay
Fine-grit sandpaper

Clean cloth
Pencil
Electric drill
Masonry drill bit
Copper wire
Wire cutters
Pliers

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