Option : Resurface The Top
If replacing the patio doesnt sound like your cup of tea,;resurfacing it might sound like a better option. However, resurfacing the patios top only hides the real issue. While cracks and furrows may now be out of sight, the initial problem of sinking and settling has left voids under the patio, and these holes will still exist. Severe voids will cause the patio slabs to rock from side to side, causing an annoying, and potentially dangerous, situation.;Also, should the edge of your resurfaced patio be a part of a step, this step will now be higher, perhaps not meeting local codes and posing a hazard.
Filling Deep Holes In Concrete Paths Slabs Drives And Hard Standings
For deeper holes, up to 150mm deep you can use the Deep Fill Repair Mortar. This epoxy mortar has quite large aggregate within the resin and, as usual is mixed with a hardener.
When mixed it is placed in the hole and levelled out. If a smooth finish is required on the surface it is as well to use a normal high performance repair mortar. See below for this. The deep fill repair mortar should be left at a maximum of 50mm down from the surface.
Filling deep holes in concrete with repair mortar
Why Concrete Repair Is The Ideal Solution
Slab leveling typically costs just a few dollars per square foot, while the price for slab replacement can be close to $50 per square foot. But saving money isnt the only reason to go with concrete repair.
Slab leveling saves you time.Most projects take just an hour or two to complete, and your concrete patio will be able to handle heavy weight just a few hours later. In contrast, replacing the slab may take several days, and youll have to stay off the patio for at least a week or two.
Slab leveling fixes the underlying problem.Gaps or air pockets in the soil underneath your patio are the most likely cause of the cracking. After leveling, the gaps will be gone and the slab will stay stable and secure for quite some time. With slab replacement, the air pockets remain which means the issue could return.
Slab leveling is an eco-friendly solution.Concrete repair involves filling gaps in the underlying soil with a cement slurry mixture made of completely natural materials. Plus, the leveling process requires very little energy and creates no waste and slab replacement is quite the opposite.
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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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How Much Will It Cost
The cost of resurfacing varies on the detail and size of your surface. It is a more cost-effective option than removing the existing concrete and pouring a new slab. A new pour patio can cost anywhere from $3 – $15, or more, per sq. ft. depending on the size and detail of the design that is being installed. Resurfacing costs between $3 and $10 per sq. ft., making it a budget friendly way to get the look and feel of a new patio.
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Preventing Tripping Hazards: The Solution
High density polyurethane concrete lifting foam helps fix sinking, moving and cracking concretemaking it an ideal way to repair uneven surfaces and eliminate tripping hazards.
This specialty foam gently elevates concrete slabs or other damaged surfaces, restores its stability and structural integrity, and provides a moisture barrier between the soil and the concrete. Steps, sidewalks, residential driveways, slab floors, pool decks, and other concrete with cracks and uneven areas are all capable of receiving this easy, quick treatment.
How Tall Should My Deck Be
Adding a deck over an existing concrete patio will add height. Depending on the step down from your back door to your concrete patio, this additional height could be problematic. However, you do have options if space is limited.
If you are using a composite tile that can be laid directly onto the concrete, the deck will only add an inch or so to the height of the patio. You will likely be adding retaining pieces, called fascia, at the edges of the patio to hide the sides of the tiles and hold them in place. The tiles themselves are designed to allow for water run-off, so this option may be more feasible if your patio is close in height to your back door.
On the other hand, if you have a considerable step down from the back door, a raised deck might be a big improvement! Rather than that short drop to get out to the grill while youre carrying a big plate of ribs, your new deck could be level with the back door. It will be a straight transition from the house to the deck, making it a lot less likely that you drop dinner before you can cook it.
If you have stairs down from the back door to the patio, you can add height to the stairs themselves to compensate for the added height of the deck. This is especially easy if you are using the composite tiles that lay flush on the concrete.
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Filling Long Cracks In Concrete Paths Hard Standings Slabs And Drives
The last of the repair mortars we use is called Flowfast pourable repair concrete and it simply does what it says on the tin!
It is mixed in the same way as both of the mortars above but the quantities that come in the tub allow for a wet, smooth flowing mixture. Watching the video in the Flowfast product review will show you exactly how to use this pourable concrete and how it can be used to repair concrete cracks very quickly.
Mixing epoxy pourable concrete to repair paths
Four Affordable Ways To Restore A Sunken & Cracked Patio
Research has shown that spending time outdoors has positive affects on our health, happiness and even creativity. So it makes sense to invest in a good concrete patio for your home. Plus, with such a small window of opportunity to use our patios in the Chicago-land area, we want to take full advantage of chilling, grilling and just sitting on our patios whenever we can.
While concrete is an extremely durable material, its not totally maintenance-free like some may think. Over time a concrete patio can crack, sink and get moldy and dirty. Your once perfect outdoor oasis becomes a not-so-pleasant place to sit. The good news is most concrete patios can be brought back to life without the headache and extremely high cost of replacement. In this article, Ill describe a few simple and cost effective ways you can revive and extend the life of your sunken, cracked and dirty patio.
1. Raising Sunken Concrete Patio Slabs
2. Power washing Your Concrete
3. Caulking Cracks and Joints
4. Sealing Your Concrete Patio
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Minutes Is All You Need
This time of year I start to notice all the flaws in my driveway, steps, and walkways.
While doing a routine fall preventive maintenance check at one of our rental houses I noticed a sizable gap on the walkway between a concrete step and landing area.
The gap was about 1/2 inch wide and seemed to be getting bigger over time. Although this could just be my bad eyesight .
Id like to avoid the possibility of the crack getting larger and creating additional fractures.
My goals for this quick project were to fill the large crack,make it watertight, and allow it to expand/contract with the natural freeze & thaw cycles.
These are the supplies youll need
- These Amazon links help support HRT, many thanks for using them
The total cost of this project if you have to buy everything is $23.15.
Im going out on a limb and assuming most of you own a broom and concrete crack filler . If you own a broom and scissors the total cost is $11.20.
If your crack is less than 1/4 inch then you dont even need the foam tubing.
Filling and repairing cracks in concrete is super important to prevent further damage. This is an easy fix and I walk you through it via a video as well as a step-by-step guide.
So lets get started because today youre going to discover a new cost-saving home repair fix
Winters And Summers Create Additional Problems
Rain water and melting snow is a problem, especially when it runs into the concrete cracks and freezes. When water freezes, it expands, and this expansion creates tremendous pressure on the concrete resulting in damage and cracking. Over and over this process occurs in the winter and season after season it goes on, continually making things worse.
As the summer rolls around the concrete goes from cool to hot, sometimes so hot that you cant walk barefooted across the deck. This constant expansion and contraction of the concrete takes its toll and more damage occurs. If there are not proper control joints and expansion joints in the concrete deck, then the damage becomes more server.
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The 5 Basic Steps To Concrete Resurfacing
STEP 1.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Why Does Concrete Crack
There are several reasons why concrete cracks, with the most common being drying shrinkage. Concrete, when placed in the plastic state, is at its largest volume. As the concrete sets and hardens, it begins to shrink. On average, concrete shrinks 1/8 inch in twenty feet.
Concrete is typically designed for compressive strength and has significantly lower tensile strength. If the internal tensile stresses are greater than the tensile strength of the concrete, a crack can develop.
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Best For Large Cracks: Filling With Concrete
If you see multiple cracks or some very large cracks, Id recommend using this particular method to repair them. Here, you actually want to mix a new batch of concrete, and simply fill the cracks with that.
Beware that this method does not work for very small cracks, as concrete is fairly thick and may not penetrate all the way down in tight spaces.
Moreover, make sure that the crack has very rough edges, as this will allow the new concrete being used for the repair to easily bond with the old concrete that is still present.
Trying to fill a crack in concrete when everything is completely smooth will likely lead to the new and old concrete not bonding properly, which will then quickly lead to new cracks forming. As such, you might even want to break the edges of the crack with a chisel before starting the job.
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!
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Can We Use Self Leveling Cement Over The Present Cracked Patio Can We Dig Out The Holes Fill Them After Which Do The Self Leveling Ought To We Strive A Pebble Epoxy Patioi Hoped You May Assist With A Suggestion For A Diy Challenge For My Husband And Myself
Are you able to repair cracked concrete patio. This repair successfully blocks weeds cures the particles drawback and prevents additional harm to the patio for years. First diligently clear the broken patio with a stress washer take away the entire free or flaking concrete and fill all cracks utilizing Re-Cap Resurfacer thats been blended with water to a. Its really useful to make use of each a hammer and chisel to enlarge the break up enabling the cement combination firmly to remain in place.
How you can Rework an Outdated Drained Cracked Concrete Patio 1 Weblog Posts Featured Deck DIY Exterior Outside Collection Outdoor Outdoor Uncategorized If youve been following alongside for some time then you definately may keep in mind that weve been engaged on initiatives to repair up the outside of our home for the reason that spring. I used some Quikrete crack sealant from Residence Depot to fill the cracks. I unfold this complete 450 sq. foot space in about 25 hours.
A lot as wed wish to say that slab leveling is at all times the perfect answer for a cracked concrete patio thats sadly not the case. Epoxy fillers dont require ending however concrete fillers must be completed with a wooden float or steel trowel after which lined for about 5 days wetting the floor as soon as a day. Cracks in a concrete patio could be repaired rapidly with easy strategies and cheap supplies.
Give Your Worn Out Concrete A Model New Look Patio Restore Concrete Restore Merchandise Concrete Patio
Insert Foam Tubing Into Large Cracks
The crack I had to repair was about 1/2 inch wide.
Although Sakrete crack filler can be used for cracks up to this size its best to fill in large gaps with the foam tubing.
The foam tubing should be slightly wider than the crack to create a tight fit. I used a 5/8 inch wide variety.
Place the tubing in the crack and push it down. There should be a 1/4 inch space between the top of the foam tubing and the top of the concrete crack.
This 1/4 inch space is where the concrete crack filler will be poured.
Click on this link for more details on the polyfoam caulk saver.
Its made by Frost King who also has a ton of other great weatherizing products.
Check out their website because youll get a lot of great ideas of how to keep the cold weather from increasing your heating bill.
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Should I Use Wood Or Composite Decking
The warm and natural feel of a deck can be accomplished with either wood or composite decking. When youre putting a deck over an old concrete patio, your first decision will be which material you want to use.
Wood Decking
Wood decking is the more traditional approach to building a deck, but it is fading in popularity. While it does look nice, it is prone to fading, rotting and drying over time. It does have the distinct advantage of being considerably more affordable than composite decking, however.
Composite Decking
One of the many benefits of composite decking is that it is built from a combination of wood fibers and PVC plastic. These are molded planks or tiles, not natural wood, and so they are not as prone to warping, swelling, drying or splitting like wood decking. They last longer than wood and require considerably less maintenance. If your project budget allows for it, composite decking is the superior choice.