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.
Dont 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 Im using in the picture!
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Stain The Concrete To Look Like Tile
If you love the look of tiles but not the hard work or the expense, you could stain the concrete to look like tile! Use 1/2 inch tape to create grout lines on the floor and then stain over it. Peel off the tape and ta-da, instant tile! Just make sure to clean it beforehand and seal it afterwards and youll have a concrete patio that looks nothing like concrete.
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Concrete Patio Repair Costs
Fixing cracks, holes, pitting and performing proactive resurfacing and sealing avoids complete patio replacement costs of about $3,500. Filling cracks and holes are simple projects that only costs between $5 to $100. You can DIY the fix or hire a professional for as little as $300. Large repairs, where cement has sunk, cracked, or needs replacement, will cost about $5 to $20 per square foot, depending on the material type and the extent of the damage.
Concrete, regularly referred to as cement, is an affordable and durable material. Once concrete does crack, it can be simple to fix either by a professional or yourself. Sealing and cleaning can fix small pitting and hairline cracks while epoxy fillers will help with larger cracks. Patch kits can repair holes while a complete concrete top coat will refresh the look and longevity of your patio. If your concrete patio is still in excellent condition, apart from a few cracks, you can also install interlocking tiles on top. This will give you a fresh patio without demolition.
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I Love The Look Of Stamped Concrete Can An Overlay Also Be Stamped And Colored
Absolutely! With stampable overlays, which are typically applied at a thickness of up to 3/4 inch, you can use the same stamping mats and texturing skins used for traditional stamped concrete to produce patterns and textures that mimic stone, brick, slate, and other materials. Texturing skins produce a seamless texture with no grout lines while mats produce a deeper pattern with well-defined lines. You can also add color using the same dry-shake color hardeners and antiquing releases used for typical stamped concrete.
How To Renew A Worn
Anthony from North Carolina says, We just bought a house that was built in the 70s. Theres a great patio in the backyard, but the concrete is so worn that you can see rocks coming through the surface in some areas. Otherwise, it seems sound with very few cracks.
We love this area but want to make it look more uniform and less weather-worn. Is there anything we can do, short of breaking it up and pouring a new patio?
We say, If you have a patio that old with very few cracks, its a pretty solid slab. Dont remove it, renew it, for a fraction of the cost.
You could paint or stain it but that wont hide that aggregate that youre seeing for very long. It sounds like what you need is a resurfacer, like Quikrete Re-Cap concrete resurfacer, to give your existing patio a new look.
Re-Cap delivers four times more bonding strength than other resurfacing materials so it will stay bonded to your existing concrete whether you put it on at one-eighth-of-an-inch thick or a half-inch.
The process is pretty simple too. Use a 3500 psi pressure washer to remove the dirt and grime from the patio. Then mix up the Re-Cap material and spread it over the surface with a squeegee to hide the aggregate and old concrete.
Since its a patio you may want to give it a broom finish to keep it slip-resistant.
What youll have is a patio that looks like a brand new slab, with consistent color and texture throughout.
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How Do Cracks Form In A Patio
There are a few different things that can cause a patio, or concrete of any kind, to crack. Famously, tree roots will disrupt nearby concrete, and push it upwards.
However, the most common thing that can cause a crack in concrete or a patio, is shrinkage. That shrinkage itself occurs when the concrete hardens.
Now, normally, one would think that concrete only hardens when it dries, but this isnt the case. Excess water is going to evaporate from the concrete over time, causing further shrinkage. With this will come those cracks.
Furthermore, if you live in a cold climate, its important to know that concrete will expand and shrink with the seasons, causing cracks in the patio as well.
Furthermore, if the concrete is poured with the improper strength, then it can crack from that. The wrong mix will lead to long-term problems for your patio, so make sure you have the right mix before you initially pour your patios concrete.
You also need to have enough control joints that your concrete stays where you want it to stay. Without those control joints, you are going to be at risk of cracking.
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How To Restore A Concrete Patio
Here’s how to prep a patio that’ll withstand harsh weather, foot traffic, and soapy scrubbings.
Once applied, a combo primer-paint product can withstand long-term exposure to harsh weather, foot traffic, and soapy scrubbings much better than standard floor paint, which can fade and wear out prematurely. Before applying the paint, its important to properly prepare the patio to ensure the paint bonds well to the concrete. Heres a detailed explanation of how to prep the surface and then restore it with a new coat of paint.
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What Causes Concrete To Spall
Spalling concrete is mostly caused in areas where the concrete is exposed to freeze and thawing conditions.
Here’s what happens:
Water gets absorbed into the concrete capillaries .
When that water freezes inside the concrete, it expands causing microscopic damage just under the surface of the concrete.
Eventually this damaged concrete starts to pop off the surface after repeated freeze and thawing cycles.
How To Repair Cracks In A Concrete Patio
irina88w / Getty Image
Cracks in a concrete patio are not just unsightly, they also invite weed growth, collect debris, and can be a trip hazard. Shifting soil and freeze-thaw events turn small cracks into wider and longer cracks. In some cases, one side of the crack rises higher than the other sidea condition called lippage that can lead to trips and falls. When cracks get out of control, the only recourse is to demolish and rebuild your patio.
Cracks in a concrete patio can be repaired quickly with simple methods and inexpensive materials. This fix effectively blocks weeds, cures the debris problem, and prevents further damage to the patio for years.
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Concrete Hero To The Rescue
Concrete Hero offers homeowners looking to bring new life to their concrete patio or driveway a 4-step Revival System which includes raising settled slabs with our PolyLift system, power washing the surface clean, caulking cracks and joints and finally applying a sealer. The cost for a typical patio revival ranges $900-$1,600 depending on the amount of lifting needed and the work takes 1-2 days to complete. Below our some recent patios we completed.
Before After
Concrete Hero is a family owned and operated concrete repair and protection company that specializes in raising, sealing, coatings and replacement. Service area includes such cities Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Algonquin, St Charles, Elgin and surrounding communities. If you are interested in receiving a free estimate for your patio or give us a call at 630-940-2805.
What Is The Most Cost Effective Way To Repair Settled Concrete
Three popular ways to repair settled concrete are to replace the concrete in its entirety, mudjack it or raise it using special polyurethane structural foam .
Replacement- Replacing the concrete is the most expensive and disruptive by far, but in some instances it may be the only course of action. For example, if the concrete has cracked so badly that it looks like a shattered piece of glass, replacement is the only option. Replacing the concrete also gives you the opportunity to update the look of your home with any number of decorative solutions, including stained and stamped designs.
Replacement requires the existing concrete surface to be removed, often times with loud jackhammers and heavy machinery. Then the sub-grade issues that caused the settlement have to be addressed, including adding stone that needs to be compacted. Once the stone is compacted, the forms for the new concrete can be put in place, village inspections completed, and the new concrete can be poured. This is not where the journey ends however. Once the concrete has a chance to cure, the forms are removed surface sealers applied and finally the landscaping that was damaged during the replacement can be repaired. The process can take as long as a week, or longer, before you can walk or drive on the driveway again.
Ready to get started?
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How To Resurface A Concrete Patio
The are the steps required in the resurfacing process:
Resurfacing Patios: Make Your Patio Look Better With An Overlay
SUNDEK of San Antonio in San Antonio, TX
Concrete patios with minor damage, but in otherwise good condition, can be transformed with concrete resurfacing. Instead of starting over with a new patio, you can upgrade its appearance and strength with a cement-based overlay.
Find patio contractors near me
Your resurfaced concrete patio can be stamped, stained, or stenciled and have color added. A professional contractor can determine if your surface is a good candidate, as well as make it look like wood, brick or stone with a combination of different colors and patterns.
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How To Fix Cracked Concrete Patio
When you go out to sit in your backyard, the last thing you want to see is a cracked patio. Cracked patios are an eyesore and most people have no idea what to do to fix it.
Well go through why your patio gets cracks and what you can do to repair it so you can start enjoying your backyard again.
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Why Is My Patio Cracked
The number one issue with outdoor patios is settling or sinking. When a patio settles, it typically does so in various sections and unevenly, which leads to unstable, wobbly surfaces. Cracks will also form as the weight of the concrete surface will no longer be supported evenly underneath. Leaving the patio or walkway in this condition will lead to stubbed toes, leaning furniture, and an overall undesirable place .
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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.
Simple Things You Can Do To Repair A Cracked Patio
·Homeowners must know some of the common causes of a cracked patio enabling you to use that best cracked concrete patio solutions. Weeds. On this contrary to popular belief. Weeds are not that first cause of a cracked patio if there is a break, these weeds will grow through it towards that light, thus widening that break.
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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.
The Right Way To Repair And Resurface Eroded Concrete
Q: Ive got problems with some of the concrete on the outside of my home as well as in my garage. There are lots of places where the top finish and layer of the concrete has eroded away. I think its called spalling. Its worse in some areas than others. My biggest question is if I should transform my concrete garage floor by installing a fancy epoxy coating. They look marvelous in my opinion. What are the pros and cons of this? How would you repair all the other wretched concrete outdoors?
Steve H., Sylvania, Ohio
A: Unsightly concrete is an increasingly common problem, if my incoming email is any indication.
First, lets discuss a few of the primary reasons spalling happens to some concrete but not to other concrete nearby. That should be your first clue that the problem probably is poor workmanship.
Concrete is simply artificial rock. Three of the 4 ingredients in basic concrete are or were rock at one point. The aggregate is made up of small stones. The sand is made from thousands of tiny pieces of rock in almost all cases. The Portland cement is powdered rock, primarily limestone and shale. The only ingredient thats not rock is water. You need the water to ignite the chemical reaction that transforms the powdered Portland cement back into solid rock again.
Read more:
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Veneering And Extensive Veneering
Veneering is the process of creating a new top layer of concrete to fill in any gaps or dips on the surface of the old patio. To get the new layer to adhere, you should rough up the surface where the repair is needed using a hammer and chisel.
Another way to ensure the top layer sticks is to drill a series of holes in the concrete with a masonry drill. Once you have prepared the surface, add your thin mix of mortar and carefully smooth it so it matches the level of the old patio, and leave it to cure for 30 minutes.
The last task is to take a brush to the surface after 30 minutes to finish it off. Extensive veneering is the same process just performed over the entire patio.
You will need to remove loose concrete and dust and then build a box frame around the edge of the patio about 2 or 3 inches above the current surface level. Next, you should add a layer of sand to any depressions and cracks and pat it down.
Pour the concrete mix and allow it to cure for the recommended time, using a trowel or brush to finish off the surface.
Essentials For Prepping Your Patio
Next, use a liquid cleanser and long-handled, nylon-bristle brush to scrub the patio clean of any remaining dust and dirt. You can buy cleansing solutions specifically made for masonry surfaces, but its more economical to make your own:
Before proceeding any further, you must wait for the patio to dry completely. To determine when the surface is sufficiently dry, try this simple moisture test: Using painters tape, affix a 12-inch-square piece of aluminum foil or plastic wrap flush against the concrete surface, making sure to seal all four edges. Wait 24 hours, then peel up the square. If the underside surface of the foil or plastic wrap is dry and free of condensation, youre ready to apply the floor paint. If not, wait a little while longer and retest the surface.
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