Proper concrete repair requires seamless bonding of new and old concrete. Use a cement compound and appropriate gravel, sand, and Portland cement. Apply a thin layer of cement paint and metal primer to prevent rusting. Finish by driving gravel below the surface and keeping the patch moist for at least a week.
Quality concrete repair or concrete restoration depends on bonding new concrete to old, seamlessly. A proper concrete repair can leave a smooth, good-looking result and last 20 to 30 years without needing to be replaced or repaired again. Careful planning in concrete restoration is critical to foundation repair which can save thousands of dollars by avoiding costly subsequent repairs.
Concrete is made up of four elements: sand, gravel, water and cement. The cement crystals chemically react with water to bind sand and gravel together. Concrete repair fails when new and old concrete fail to bond the property, so the best way to ensure a concrete repair project is a success is with a cement compound.
You can buy and mix the raw materials for a concrete repair job, or buy pre-mixed concrete. Choosing the proper gravel, sand, and Portland cement takes more time, but is less expensive and generally results in a cleaner, more uniform appearance. Portland cement is the most popular type of cement on the market.
For most concrete repairs, mix three parts gravel, two parts sand, and 1.5 parts cement. When repairing patches that don’t require gravel, mix 2.5 parts sand to one part cement. Choose appropriately sized gravel to match the existing concrete.
Applying new cement to repair previously shaped concrete such as edges, corners, steps or sidewalks requires a stud, such as a reinforced steel bar. The rough exterior of the bar gives the new concrete a large surface area to grip, making the patch more durable. If the old concrete allows for space, use a half-inch drill bit to drill a hole three to four inches deep. Use a four-pound or heavier hammer to drive the half-inch steel rod. Measure the length of rod you need first as cutting the rod after it has been inserted could weaken the older cement or cause the new cement to crack.
Before you begin, clean and moisten the old concrete. Apply a thin layer of cement paint to the surface. Paint the steel studs with metal primer to prevent the rod from rusting and cracking the concrete later. Apply a generous coat of cement, then add the sand, gravel, and cement mix to repair the crack, hole, or surface.
When finished, drive the pieces of gravel a quarter inch below the surface by rubbing a flat board across the surface. The best time to do this is when you initially pour the concrete. The process will bring the sand and cement to the surface, resulting in a smooth, uniform appearance.
Cool, humid weather is the best time for outdoor concrete repair. Avoid hot, rainy, or breezy days for this type of common home repair. If you have to work on a hot day, keep an eye on the concrete as it hardens and smooth the bedding concrete repeatedly. As the concrete settles, water may leak out. Do not use a board or trowel to force water back into the concrete as this will weaken the concrete surface over time. Just let the water evaporate.
After applying the new layer, cover the patch with plastic to prevent it from drying out prematurely. Apply water to the new patch regularly for at least a week. New concrete takes up to three months to harden and dry properly. It may take that long for the concrete repair to look indistinguishable from the old concrete.
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