Concrete Resurfacing

By Karen Stretch, regional editor

Photos Courtesy of the Conrete Network

Resurfacing has become a relatively inexpensive, easy way to repair cracks or discolorations in concrete. It allows for a new, smooth surface without having to remove and replace an entire section of concrete.

After pressure washing the area you will be resurfacing, chisel cracks using a cold chisel and hammer to create a backward-angle cut.

Clean away loose material using a wire brush or a drill with a wire wheel attachment.

Clean the Area to Be Resurfaced

The first step in concrete resurfacing is to clean the area you will be working on. A pressure washer is typically used to remove all of the built-up dirt and debris.

Priming the Cracks

Chisel out the crack to create a backward-angled cut using a cold chisel and a hammer. Clean any loose material from the crack using a wire brush or drill with a wire wheel attachment. Applying a thin bonding adhesive helps to keep repair material from loosening out of the crack.

Applying a layer of bonding adhesive helps keep repair material in place.

Mix a vinyl reinforced patching compound and trowel the mixture into the crack. Make sure that the patching material is flush with the surrounding surface.

Filling the Cracks

After applying the bonding adhesive, mix a vinyl reinforced patching compound and trowel it into the crack. Feather the repair with the trowel so that it is even with the surrounding surface. For large cracks, after you have chiseled out the crack and cleared away any loose material, pour sand into the crack to within 1/2 inch of the surface. Prepare sand-mix concrete adding a concrete fortifier and then trowel the mixture into the crack. Feather the material until it is flush with the surface.

After all of the cracks have been filled, reinforce them with fabric and paint over the area with an elastomeric basecoat. Next, polymer concrete is smoothed over the crack and then ground down until it is even with the surface. Fill any holes in the concrete using an epoxy mortar.

Resurfacing

The next step is to apply a prime coat and granule broadcast. A texture coat is then applied. It will need to be mixed according to specifications on the packaging and then applied with a hopper gun.

Applying a sealer is the final step of the resurfacing project. After the surface has been sealed, allow it to cure for at least 48-72 hours before allowing any vehicular traffic.

After fabric has been applied over the patching compound, apply an elastomeric basecoat over the fabric.

Apply polymer concrete to the area and grind it smooth with the surrounding concrete surface.

When To Replace Concrete

Sometimes repairing the surface of concrete just isn?EUR??,,????'???t enough to fix a problem. According to the Concrete Network, it?EUR??,,????'???s time to throw in the trowel and have the concrete replaced when the following conditions occur:

Widespread, Deep Cracks

Any patching compound used to patch these types of cracks will only be a short-term fix. You definitely would not want to patch these cracks and then spend money resurfacing the concrete or doing a decorative topping.

Next, apply primecoat and granule broadcast.

Using a hopper gun, spray the texture coat onto the polymer concrete. Go over the texture coat with a trowel to finish the surface.

Sunken Concrete

Sunken concrete occurs when the subgrade was not prepared properly. Loose dirt may have been used for the subgrade. When this dirt settles-sometimes due to sprinkler or rainwater going under the concrete-the concrete is unsupported and will be more susceptible to sinking.

It is possible that the subgrade was compacted and the concrete was subjected to extreme weight that caused the concrete to sink. Get the advice of a local soils engineer on subgrade preparation for your area and material needed to prepare subgrade.

After the color coat has been applied, seal the concrete and let it cure for 48-72 hours.

Frost Heave

Frost heave is very common in cold climates. It occurs when soil expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. The process can cause cracks in pavement, damage plant roots through breaking or desiccation and damage the foundations of buildings, even below the frost line. Moist, fine-grained soil at certain temperatures is most susceptible to frost heaving.

Source: The Concrete Network