Compared to many home improvement and repair projects, resurfacing concrete is a relatively easy task that can be done with concrete resurfacing products available at any home improvement center or hardware store. Resurfacing is a good option when the surface of a concrete slab or structure is cosmetically marred but in otherwise good shape. Resurfacers will not correct deep cracking or heaving, but they can cover over routine flaking of a concrete surface or small pits due to spalling. A concrete slab that has been damaged by road salts, for example, can be renewed quite easily with a coating of resurfacer.
If you take the time to prepare properly, apply the resurfacer carefully according to manufacturer instructions, and allow the resurfacer plenty of time to cure, you’ll be rewarded with a garage floor, driveway, sidewalk, or patio that looks as good as new.
Concrete Resurfacing Products
The major manufacturers of concrete products, including Quickrete and Sakrete, all sell concrete resurfacing products. Usually, these consist of a blend of Portland cement, fine sands, polymer modifying compounds, and other additives that make the surfacer easy to apply and spread over existing concrete surfaces. They are intended to be spread in thin layers from 1/16 to 1/2 inch thick. These special mixtures are fairly expensive products, but in the right application, they can make a concrete slab look brand new.
Concrete resurfacing products are intended only for covering the surface of concrete and will serve to repair only the most superficial cracks and pits. For more substantial repairs, such as wide cracks or those that have slight vertical shifts, you will need to first repair the areas using a product that is specifically designed for patching, such as Sakrete’s Top ‘n Bond, and then follow up with a complete resurfacing treatment.
Before You Begin
It is critical that the concrete surface is cleaned of all loose debris. A strong spray from a garden hose and long-handled scrub brush may suffice, but a good pressure washing will provide better cleaning.
You should also remove any oil stains, paint, or tree sap from the concrete. If your efforts fail to remove the stain entirely, consider applying a sealer over the stain before resurfacing. If left unsealed, the stain will very likely bleed through the resurfacing layer.
It is important that expansion joints be protected when resurfacer is applied. Mask off these control joints with duct tape or weather stripping to prevent the resurfacer from filling them in.
Source: The Spruce
