Introduction
If browsing this, you need to know how to repair concrete surfaces. Browse no further, as I have a quick walkthrough here. I’ll keep everything as simple as possible for this to stay within budget.
Concrete is used to build floors, driveways, patios, walls, and more. It’s been around before the Romans, who mostly get the glory, and it’s still going strong.
Time takes its toll, however. Unlike the Romans, we must deal with different chemicals, road salt, heavy vehicles, etc. Nothing stands up to Mother Nature forever, and it doesn’t have to. Blistering heat and bitter cold can crack the toughest of concrete.
Things you might need
- Something like plywood to build forms if needed; other wood can also work.
- Spray can and cooking oil for the form so the concrete won’t stick in it.
- Mixing concrete in a bucket or something else can be simple for small things. A simple garden bucket will do if you mix it by hand.
- Concrete mixer: If you have more significant amounts, you must incorporate them. Consider renting one if you need a drill that can mix concrete.
- You might need a few trowels. One for digging concrete on your finishing trowel and finishing trowel that is the proper size for your project.
- Stone chisel for removing loose concrete and a wire brush for brushing.
- Hydraulic cement is for small cracks, and latex bonding liquid is for adhering step patches.
First, we should always assess the damage.
Assess the damage. If the concrete driveway looks more like a pebble beach, you should have it replaced. If the driveway is in two pieces, one higher than the other, you should have it replaced. If there’s a hole you could lose a bicycle in, well, you get the idea.
If the damage is just a crack, a broken corner, or something simple, you can repair it yourself. It’s also relatively straightforward.
Call a contractor if your concrete wall is leaning or bulging or if the crack is through the wall and one side looks like it’s leaning. This isn’t a DIY job.
Repairing concrete cracks
Clean out the crack with the wire brush for a simple wall crack. Get all the loose particles out and vacuum to ensure you have a clean surface to work with.
If there are any loose bits, these can be chipped off with a stone chisel and a ball-peen hammer. Be sure to wear heavy gloves and safety goggles so you won’t get small rocks in your eye.
Mix a batch of hydraulic cement and force it into the crack with a putty knife. This cement sets up quickly, so work quickly. I like to make small batches of any cement or epoxies that are set up quickly.
For a quick walkthrough, mix the hydraulic cement in your chosen container. Then, start filling the crack from one end to another. Try to fix it as level as possible so it will stick out only a little from the wall or floor.
Hydraulic cement, being fast-setting, can even stop minor leaks. You should check the manufacturer’s label to see what your product can do before using it.
Filling holes in concrete driveway and using resurfacer
This works for superficial cracks in a driveway, garage floor, or patio.
If the surface of your concrete looks old and tired, you can give it a new face, and it will last for years. Measure your surface and purchase a concrete resurfacer at your local hardware store. The sales associate will help you determine how much you need.
First, clean the concrete thoroughly. You might wash it with a garden hose or pressure washer. It is to get all the possible surface dirt and loose material away.
Then, it would help if you fixed small holes with a concrete repair mortar and maybe a mixing agent. The products can be slightly different from area to area. Still, a local hardware store should know which of your local products is suitable for small driveway holes.
Mix the mortar and fix the holes with a trowel, leaving the finished surface level with the surrounding concrete. This will help us when we spread the concrete resurfacer as there won’t be bumps that stick out on the driveway.
Small things can be fixed with the resurfacer as well.
Mix the resurfacer according to the directions. Pour onto the concrete surface, starting at one end. Don’t work yourself into a corner if you’re in a room. Use the trowel to push the resurfacer into pits or small cracks.
You need to check the working time of your resurfacer product. If it’s a fast setting and you’re new to this, start by making small amounts. For a big surface with no expansion marks, I’d recommend a concrete resurfacer with a working time from 30 minutes upwards.
Trowel the surface smooth and allow it to dry for at least twenty-four hours. If you’re resurfacing a walkway, mark the expansion marks and copy them in the resurfacing material.
Repairing concrete steps and broken corners
If a concrete stair has a broken corner, you don’t have to spend money to have it destroyed and rebuilt.
Use scrap wood or plywood to build a form. You’ll fill this form with concrete.
First, clean the concrete and remove any loose bits. Build a form to cover the corner and at least four or five inches on either side of the break. You can make a wedge from wood to hold the form in place. You need the form in place so it doesn’t give in when the concrete is in.
Spray the inside of the form with cooking oil. When you remove the form, you want the concrete to stay. Spray the concrete with a latex bonding liquid. This will adhere to the concrete repair to the stairs.
Mix a quick-setting form of concrete and fill the form using a putty knife. Pack the concrete in tightly. Slightly overfill the top, and gently tap on the form and the surface with a trowel to release any air bubbles. Allow to dry for a couple of days before removing the form.
This works well for small corners. If a third of the step is missing, a mechanical hold, such as a piece of rebar, may be needed.
Repairing concrete steps with rebar
This is an advanced-skill job. Use a hammer drill and drill several holes in the concrete, at least four to six inches deep. Cut pieces of rebar to fit inside the form to make a new stair. Bend the ends of the rebar.
Cement the rebar ends into the holes with a quick setting cement. If the rebar wants to lay flat, wire it in place with baling or heavy wire. Attach the form to the concrete and fill it as above.
Repairing concrete can be a dusty, sweaty job. In the end, dust settles, and sweat washes off. The money you save is worth the effort.
Conclusion
When it comes to repairing concrete, there are various methods that can be employed depending on the extent of the damage.
If you’re dealing with small cracks, you can resort to simple tricks to fix them. However, it’s essential to remember that if the damage is left unattended, it will only get worse and require more extensive repairs.
Therefore, it’s recommended to address even minor cracks as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming a bigger issue. By doing so, you can save yourself time, money, and effort in the long run.
That’s my favorite reason for preventing concrete damage. If you can, stop it when it’s a crack. It will save you time and money.
