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DIY Tips on Resurfacing Concrete

Even though concrete is one of the most durable building materials available time, traffic, and the elements can cause the concrete surface to spall, wear and discolor. Que concrete resurfacing. It can provide a new durable wear resistant surface on old worn concrete driveways, sidewalks and patios that will last. Concrete resurfacing will renew your concrete surface at a fraction of the cost to tear out and replace old concrete slabs. As with any concrete repair project, proper surface preparation is essential for a successful result.

This is especially true for concrete resurfacing. Old concrete must be rigorously clean to ensure proper adhesion of the new surface. A high strength 3500 high pressure washer must be used to remove any dirt, oil, grease or deteriorating concrete prior to the application of concrete resurfacing. Concrete resurfacing is ideal for resurfacing large areas like driveways, patios and pool decks. But because it sets quickly, it is important to section off your work areas to no larger than 144 square feet.

This will allow enough time for placing and finishing the resurfacing before it begins to set. It’s essential that control joints and expansion joints are maintained to allow for slab movement. These joints can usually be used to define your work area. Weatherstripping can be used to prevent concrete resurfacing from spilling into the joints before resurfacing your slab. Deeply sprawled areas and large cracks should be repaired using concrete resurfacing that has been mixed to a travel consistency. The repairs should be allowed to harden before resurfacing the entire area to mix concrete resurfacing.

A five gallon bucket and a one half inch drill and panel mixer should be used. Hand mixing in standard concrete barrel type mixers cannot be used for this application when mixing or placing concrete resurfacing. As with any cement mix, it is important to wear safety glasses and waterproof gloves, measure and add three and a half quarts of clean, cool water to the five gallon bucket to mix one 40 pound bag of concrete resurfacing, then begin to add the powder to the water while mixing mix for about five minutes until a lump free portable consistency is achieved. If you know how to do this, then you already know how to repair concrete like a pro.

If the mix is too thick, add water sparingly to reach the consistency of syrup. If the mix is too thin, additional powder can be added. 140 pound bag of concrete surface covers about 90 square feet, one eighth of an inch thick. So a typical 16 foot by 24 foot driveway will use about five bags resurfacing. Because the application process is continuous, it is always best to have a few extra bags to allow for any changes in thickness or waist prior to applying concrete resurfacing to saturate the surface with water and then remove any standing water.

Concrete acts like a rigid sponge, dampening the concrete will cool the slab and prevent the mixing water from being drawn out of the material. During the resurfacing application. You are now ready to begin the application process for the resurfacing onto the concrete in one foot wide strips, then using a long handled squeegee, scrub the material into the concrete surface, working back and forth, evenly spread. The resurfacing are on to the slab. After about five minutes, a non-slip finish can be applied using a concrete broom, make long strokes across the full distance of the work area without stopping.

All brushstrokes should be made in the same direction for uniformity of appearance. A concrete etching tool can also be used within about twenty minutes of pouring. The resurfacing of concrete resurfacing has a working time of about 30 minutes. At 73 degrees and hotter weather, the working time will be reduced using cold mixing water and keeping the bags of concrete resurfacing shade. It will help extend the application time under normal conditions. No special curing is required, although in temperatures over ninety degrees, moisture with a fine water mist for 24 to 48 hours because concrete surfaces, polymer modified temperature should remain above 50 degrees for at least eight hours and should be protected from freezing for twenty four hours after application.

Concrete surface area will support foot traffic in about six hours and vehicle traffic in twenty four hours. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to drop us a line. Sunny Desert Concrete’s staff are always on stand by and ready to help.