Extra Design Elements To Add
We have lots of great inspiration from home shows, and where to find similar pieces to complete your concrete patio ideas.
I can almost feel the plans for all of the summer nights and days spent out on the patio. It is going to be your favorite place to hang out with all of these great concrete patio ideas for a makeover.
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About Elisa
Investor From Mountaintop Pennsylvania
You’ve got two problems. The condition of the concrete pad, and what caused the pad to heave or settle. If you attempt a cosmetic repair, it will be short lived unless you fix the underlying issue. Looking at your photo, it appears that there is a down spout in a state of disrepair. I would ensure the back gutters are cleaned and properly attached to the back of the house. You also need to fix the down spout and route the water coming out of it away from your concrete pad.
What To Do With Cracked Concrete Patio
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Cracked concrete patio leads to cracked concrete patio repair work, but before you decide that all is lost and its time for a new paving or decking surface, take into consideration these tips from the top of the leading experts.
How To Repair A Cracked And Old Cement Patio
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Today we are sharing how to repair a cracked and old cement patio that we completed at our old house.
This post was updated April 2020 to reflect an updated version of this product. The product link is towards the bottom of this post. This post was not sponsored, we just really liked the outcome of the space so we shared with you!
The patio had been neglected and seriously damaged through the winter storms. My dad completely ruined it when he put down some kind of a rock salt during the winter that ate through the cement like it was a little scooby snack.
TIP: If you have deep cracks or large concrete pieces missing, you will need to use a filler product prior to fix them. Read the directions on the back of the product to ensure you are applying properly.
From Severna Park Maryland
Just rip it out , its done . looking at the yard it could stand for some regrading . So I would leave the patio until you are just about done with the house , that way you have a hard surface for staging work and no mud to deal with . Finish the house , then have a landscaper come in with a skid steer rip out the patio , the stump and re grade the yard . Seed and straw . Any repairs to that patio are a waste of time and money . Get rid of the slider , put in some french doors , build a small landing that flows into the lawn . Nothing fancy .
How To Patch A Cracked Sidewalk Or Concrete Patio
Do you have a wide, unsightly crack in your concrete sidewalk, driveway or patio? The concrete may have cracked all the way through the slab, and now one piece is higher than the adjacent piece. These types of cracks can be trip hazards.
Heres my advice on how you should correct a cracked walk or patio at your home.
Lets start by discussing what to do if you have a crack and the concrete pieces are in the same plane with no vertical offset. This is the easiest of all repairs, and theres a good chance you can do this yourself in an hour or so.
I would make this repair using time-tested concrete epoxy. Years ago, it was hard to put epoxy in a crack. Youd have to mix its two thick components a polyamide hardener and an epoxy resin and then carefully try to get it into the crack without making a mess.
Now you can purchase a gray concrete epoxy thats already in a caulking tube. A special mixing nozzle screws onto the end of the tube. As you squeeze the handle of your caulk gun, the two epoxy components are squirted into the nozzle. A special insert within the nozzle blends the components, and by the time theyve traveled about 6 inches through the nozzle theyre completely mixed.
Its important that the epoxy gets at least 1 inch down into the crack. To do this, you almost always need to widen the crack. I use a 4-inch grinder equipped with a dry diamond cutting wheel. Be sure to wear goggles and a respirator so you dont ingest the concrete dust.
Investor From Orange County California
Looks like there are 2 steps down from the backdoor … what about building a “deck” over it that would be even leveled to the interior floor/backdoor. You could tie it into a nice open trellis arbor over the top that ties into the house if you want to get fancy and make it a nice outdoor living space.
How Do I Fix It
So, what causes a patio to settle in the first place? Prior to the concrete being installed, the ground is prepared by compacting the earth underneath with heavy machinery. In most cases, this compacted surface will either be gravel or at least covered with a layer of gravel. These steps are taken to prevent the ground from settling under the weight of the patio installed above. However, sometimes settlement is inevitable due to weather conditions, namely rain water washing away the soil underneath. Also, sometimes the compacting is not done correctly or thoroughly enough.
A Repair For Cracked Concrete That Almost Looks Perfect
Q: Tim, I need to replace a cracked section of my concrete driveway. My primary concern is matching the color and texture of the new patch to the existing driveway. It doesnt need to be perfect, just close. How does one accomplish this? Ive read your past concrete repair columns, so I understand how to mix, place and finish the concrete. Also, what do contractors use to paint the concrete to make it white?
Donn R., Clemson, S.C.
A: Many readers may be facing the same conundrum as Donn. Maybe theyre trying to match a wall stucco patch. Or perhaps they want to repair the mortar between brick on a home.
Im sure everyone has seen garish repairs where the new patching material stands out like a red wine stain on a white blouse. Its possible to get close when doing these types of masonry repairs, but its next to impossible to get a perfect match. If youve got patience and many dont you can really come very close to achieving perfection.
My advice is to do a thorough cleaning of the concrete before you start. You can accomplish this using a pressure washer equipped with a 15-degree tip at the end of the wand. Cleaning the concrete allows you to see exactly what you’ll be matching.
Pay attention to the different colors of the sand as well as the grain size. You may have to mix sand from different sources and blend them to get a close match. You have to get the sand right.
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Option 1: Replace The Whole Thing
The first way most homeowners think of to address their settling patio is to simply replace it. Seems simple enough, right?
But this method is not so simple. Replacing the entire patio will first require you to remove any furniture you may have on the surface, as well as any plants or landscaping which may be along the borders. Then youre in for lots of labor, new materials, and foot traffic through your property. Even though it seems like the most obvious choice, replacing the whole patio is the most expensive and time consuming option on the table. So what else can you do?
Solved What To Do About Cracks In A Concrete Driveway
Q: We just bought a new house and we love it, but the driveway has a few cracks and Id really like to fix them. Is repairing a cracked driveway a do-it-yourself job, or will I need to hire a contractor?A: While concrete is certainly one of the most durable construction materials around, over time it
When To Repair A Concrete Patio
Unlike the controlled environment of a home’s interior, concrete patios are subject to temperature and moisture fluctuations that can severely hamper your repair. For most patch materials, both the air and the concrete must be between 50 F and 90 F. The concrete should be perfectly dry and no precipitation should be forecast for the next 24 hours. Covered concrete patios that remain fully dry can be patched during precipitation.
How To Fix An Old Concrete Patio
Here is the before:
The patio was a mix of old red paint, gray original cement, cracks and holes. Can you say, mess?! After a good power washing and removing any loose cement, we added 23 gallons of the Concrete RESTORE.
The space is about 400 sq.ft. We bought the large 4 gallon buckets as well as the RESTORE roller.
Attach the roller with a long handled paint roller and simply dump the concrete/paint mixture and roll it on. It is SO easy!
How to repair a cracked and old cement patio
We picked the color Cape Cod Gray to have the RESTORE cement tinted to. There are so many colors available. I spread this entire 450 square foot area in about 2.5 hours. One important tip, do not roll it on like you would when painting a wall .
The directions say to use a paint tray ect. I simply dumped 1/4 1/2 of the bucket on the cement and worked in sections. When you spread the cement, simply pull it towards you or push away from you. Do not roll over back and forth. This stuff is very thick but easy to spread.
I highly recommend the special RESTORE roller.
Do not use a regular paint roller.
If you take a break in between, just wrap your roller in a plastic grocery bag. Thats what I did
Ok, now for the good part, here is how my moms patio is looking now!
How To Resurface Badly Damaged Concretewalkways Patios And Driveways
Resurfacing your badly damaged concrete is a good way to renew your concrete without having to demo and replace it with new concrete.
In most cases, I’ve found repairing and resurfacing a concrete walkway, patio, or driveway is much less expensive than removing the old concrete and re-pouring a new one.
Resurfacing concrete for a sidewalk, patio, or driveway is all done the same way.
The steps it takes to resurface your concrete are:
Pitted Cracked Concrete Can Be Resurfaced
Q I have a concrete patio that has become pitted from icemelting products. Is there a way to repair the patio without havingto replace it?
Concrete patios and walks can discolor, crack and become pittedas they age. Chemicals contained within some ice melting productswill also cause a concrete surface to crack or become pitted asthey combine with water and are absorbed into the porous surface ofconcrete. As the ice thaws and refreezes, pressure is exerted onthe concrete surface, resulting in cracks. Recently there has beena product by Synta called Concrete Restore that can resurfaceexisting surfaces and even fill cracks and pits up to 1/4-inchdeep. It can be tinted in up to 20 different colors. Two coats arerequired, but a medium-sized patio can be “restored” in about 24hours.
The first step is to thoroughly clean the old surface. Use apressure washer to remove any surface dirt. If you don’t own one,they can be rented at many rental centers and home improvementcenters. Make sure that any mold or mildew is completely removed.Next, use a wire brush to remove any loose particles from cracks inthe surface. Now the water-based resurfacer is mixed within afive-gallon bucket. Using a paint brush, generously apply theconcrete restore to any cracks or pits. Use a short dabbing motionto fill the cracks. Once the cracks have been addressed, the nextstep is to cut in the edges of your patio or walk. Again applygenerously using short strokes.
Add Curves With Pavers
A square concrete slab is standard, but you can add curves around your concrete patio with the help of pavers. For instance, you could add a half circle to one side to create a fire pit area. Or use pavers to border off a circular garden at one corner of your patio.
You can see how we added a curved retaining wall during our backyard patio project, plus a matching fire pit.
This is such a pretty way to make over a concrete patio.
Why Does The Concrete Patio Settle
In the first place, why does the concrete patio settle or sink? Before the concrete is installed, the ground is prepared and the earth is compacted using heavy machinery. Typically, the compacted surface usually comprises of gravel or it will have at least a layer of gravel. This is usually done to prevent the ground from sinking because of the weight of the concrete patio that is installed above.
Settlement can occur because of weather conditions or the soil below it eroding due to rainwater. It may also occur if the compacting is not done thoroughly or properly.
The 5 Basic Steps To Concrete Resurfacing
STEP 1.Â
Remove all the loose, crumbling, cracked, and broken pieces of concrete first. You can do this by lightly grinding like we do or by using a good pressure washer, 3500 psi or more.
If you grind like we do, lightly pressure wash the concrete afterwards to remove all the dust & debris leftover by grinding.
STEP 2.Â
Patch & repair all cracks, chips, and broken areas over 1/4″ deep or deeper before resurfacing. You can use the resurfacing product for this or another concrete patch product. Lightly sand or rubbing stone it smooth after it sets up.
STEP 3.Â
Lightly dampen the concrete and apply the first coating of resurfacing material. You can trowel it or squeegee it over the surface.
Don’t try to be too perfect, just consistent. IF you have any lines, you can sand them out before doing the 2nd coat.
STEP 4.Â
As soon as the first coating is dry, you can apply the 2nd, finish coat. Lightly mist the surface with water and mix and apply the second coating just like the first one.
Apply your broom finish right after you trowel/squeegee it down.
STEP 5.Â
Seal the new concrete with a concrete sealer to protect it! Spray or roll on two very light coats of sealer to help your new concrete surface last for a long time.
You can use a clear sealer or a tinted one like I’m using in the picture!
How Polyurethane Lifting Foam Works: A Simple Process
This innovative and effective fix to your driveway or walkways can be installed without interrupting your daily life or disrupting your property.
A truck or trailer that contains the foam can be parked wherever its most convenient for you and your neighbors. An extremely long hose can be set up to transfer the foam to your property, so theres no risk of heavy trucks sitting on your driveway or blocking the road.
Our well-trained installation will pull the hose to the area of concrete that needs to be repaired, setting it carefully in place. Well then inject the polyurethane foam through drilled holes that reach under the slab, filling any areas below, thereby raising it to appropriate levels and creating a lovely, smooth, even surface.
Polyester Resin Or Phenolic Resin
These are best used as a last resort when cracks have spread far beyond their original limits.
Youll be able to build up the surface back to near uniform thickness by adding coats of resin until you have a solid uniform coating on top.
If these repairs start off in areas where theres a lot of concrete damage, the best thing to do is to buy some epoxy bonding admixture and fix the loose areas first .
Rock Star Extraordinaire From Northeast Tn
If the concrete is stable – i.e. it’s cracked but not shifting any further – you can do a topcoat on the patio only, either with a concrete slurry or use the current patio as a solid base for slate, tile, fieldstone, etc. You can also seal the cracks with a cement product that has some flex agent in it, and stain the entire patio to blend it in. Finally, you can cut expansion joints into the entire patio in a pattern that makes sense – grid, quadrants, whatever – and bust out the section that are damaged and just repour those sections.
How To Repair Cracked Concrete
A properly installed concrete patio or driveway can last for decades but its inevitable that small cracks or holes may eventually appear. Unlike other materials, such as wood, concrete can be repaired and restored to its former glory so it looks like new. If your concrete has developed a few imperfections, its important that you get it repaired as soon as you can. While certain types of cracks may appear to be minor, they can actually create more damage over time if not fixed. Not to mention that theyre unsightly and can be a tripping hazard, too.
Dont let a small problem turn into a larger issue. While there are certain types of cracks that a seasoned DIYyer may feel comfortable taking on, in most cases, we generally recommend that homeowners call in the professionals to repair a cracked driveway, walkway, or patio. Regardless of who is going to do the repair, its important to know what youre dealing with. Lets dive in!
Tips On How To Fix Cracked Patio Concrete
1. If your patio has large cracks it can be difficult and expensive trying to fill them all with liquid filler, so patch up the worst of them with an epoxy resin and the remaining smaller cracks can be filled by using a liquid crack filler product.
2. After you have repaired any damage to your concrete patio, apply a penetrating stain or water sealer and allow it to soak into the small hairline cracks before applying a surface protectant such as an acrylic sealant.
This will make the repairs virtually invisible. .
3. If theres too much concrete cracking or peeling off then laying down some boards over the patio and sandblasting it flat is going to be easier than trying to repair all of it because youll have larger areas that are more uniform in thickness plus theyre cleaner so repairs bond better.
4. Deep penetrating cracks may need epoxy, polyurethane or phenolic resins to create a solid surface again.
5. If you have very large holes then fill them with sand and concrete
6. Smaller holes can be filled with self hardening concrete mix products e.g.: silicate
These tips will help protect your investment and keep your patio looking good for many years to come.
How To Fix Cracks In Concrete: 4 Best Methods
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While concrete is a tough material, it does have its limitations. Over the course of several years, extreme temperatures and other conditions can cause it to warp, crack, degrade, and chip away.
Because of that, you might notice that your relatively new driveway already has some cracks in it. Fear not, because today we are here to help you learn how to fix cracks in concrete. We will cover four methods that will help you deal with cracks of all sizes
Step 1: Removing Chunks
What you never want to do when filling cracks in concrete is to just pour the filler in there. That wont work. If there is a crack in the concrete, chances are that there are some loose pieces and chunks. You dont want those loose chunks in there when you go repair the crack.
Therefore, you need to use a hammer and a chisel to remove any such chunks that may get in the way, as the chunks will reduce the integrity of your fix if they are left in the crack.
Chisel all chunks away and remove them as best you can.
Can You Resurface A Concrete Driveway This Way
Yes, you can resurface a concrete driveway, porch, patio, and pool deck this same way.
For larger areas, you’ll have to do it in sections so you can broom each section as you’re resurfacing it.
Most concrete driveways have sawed or hand tooled joints. Use these as your “sections” and do one at a time.
what can i use to resurface concrete?
There’s all kinds of concrete resurfacing products out there for you to use.
Some of my favorite’s are:
- Ardex’s CD DRESSING Concrete resurfacer
What’s the best concrete resurfacer to use? Well, they’re all made basically the same.Â
They all have a special blend of Portland cement, sand, polymer modifiers and other additives that are designed to be very flowable, shrinkage compensating, high bonding strength, and go down very thin.Â
They’re all designed to provide a NEW, durable, wear resistant surface over worn, scaling concrete. They’re mostly used to resurface concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, porches, and pool decks.
If you’re choosing, I’d go with what’s most local to you. They all have a quick turnaround time. You’ll be able to walk on each one in a few hours after applying.
does concrete resurfacing last?
That’ll depend on a few things.
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Add The Concrete Crack Filler
Cut off the end of the applicator tip. Shake the crack filler container if necessary. Some crack fillers will separate, so squirt a small amount of filler onto a piece of cardboard until thicker filler emerges. Force a bead of the filler into the crack, slowly drawing it along and making sure that the filler fully settles into the crack before moving on.
Trowel Down The Filler
If there are areas that fill the crack from side to side and are flat, they will not need additional tooling. For high areas, draw the putty knife in the direction of the crack to flatten the filler. For areas that appear low or have pockets, add more filler in those areas and then immediately trowel down with the putty knife.
Cracked And Uneven Concrete: The Causes
Theres no question that concrete is one of the most durable construction materials around, but concrete sidewalks, driveways, and patios are still susceptible to cracking and breaking down over time. Many things, such as exposure to the elements, poor water drainage, and repeated frost heave can lead to deterioration through the years. Here are some additional reasons for cracked or uneven concrete:
Add A Beautiful Outdoor Rug
The easiest way to make over a concrete patio is to invest in a large and striking outdoor rug. . The eye will instantly go to the rug and the concrete patio will disappear into the background. Put some great outdoor furniture on top of the rug and youve got yourself an outdoor space you can be proud of. If you like a beachy color scheme of blue and white, youll love .