Everywhere you go, concrete surfaces greet you. It is the most loved material to build among flooring surfaces. It is because of its cost-efficient and superior quality. It is adaptive to any environment. It does not wear and tear compared to other conventional floor material.
Thin creases are common to old slabs that had reached beyond their lifespan. Minor repairs such as concrete surface renew Seattle can provide the right fix to this; fast and easy. Also, if you got the concrete floor outdoors, heavy use and traffic caused early signs of concrete problems.
Knowing that concrete lasts for decades makes you think of any possible solution to restore or revive the once polished and flawless surface?
Then, you are in the right place!
Today’s post will introduce you to practical tips and solutions to restore your concrete and save it from severe damages.
Steps on How to Renew and Refinish Concrete Surfaces
1- Assess and Prepare
To begin renewing your worn and old concrete, check first and assess the type of damage it got. Common signs of depleting cementitious flooring are cracks, chipping, scaling, discoloring, and crumbling.
Depending on the kind of repair you need, a resurfacing or a complete replacement, you need specific materials to use. The tools you might need will include the smallest like a drill, jackhammer to bigger ones like a bulldozer. Then after assessing, you may find out that you will need the help of professional concrete contractors, or if you can just do-it-yourself. Then, you are ready for the next strep.
2- Crack fill the crawling creases
Today with the more practical tools available, you can put your work on renewing the concrete. Prepare the concrete mix for filling or patching. Then, visit a local supplier to get user-friendly guns to inject the patching mix along the cracks.
You will need:
- Concrete mix
- Electric/Corde Drill
- Mixing paddle and caulk gun
Once you are done mixing the filler, you can drill inches-gap along the cracks to fill and seal the hallow spots. Using a caulk gun, insert the mix on the cracked parts that you need to patch. Do this carefully and accurately.
If you are not sure how well you can exert precision in filling the cracks, then call a professional to help you!
3- Masking for Expansion
Concrete patches and filler need to cure entirely before any finishing is added to it. The porous layer, though, expands under heat or warm weather.
After filling, here are essential steps to follow:
- Scrape and level the patched parts using a putty knife and pointed trowel.
- Spread on the part where the mix of new concrete is applied.
- Mask that area with a strip of duct tape.
This helps give the crack joints a space to expand. The joints usually come in half to an inch wide. Duct tape is flexible. It can allow for expansion to take place without it cracking or breaking.
4- Dress and Texture
After filling and allowing the patch to bind the crack joints, the surface is now ready for dressing up with a new layer of concrete. Mix the new concrete mix using the mixing drill. In this step, it is crucial to get the right consistency of the concrete. For a new concrete layer, the texture is thicker.
But, be careful. Too much weight on the top will create chaos cracking the old slabs beneath. Only experts can identify and get the right mix for this step. Do not hesitate to call them.
5- Finishing
The best way to finish a renewed concrete is by applying a protective sealer or coating. After spreading the new layer, remove the duct tape from the joints.
Then, apply a water-based sealer. This final finishing will provide a glossy polish on the cement surface. For outdoor concrete-like your driveway, patios, or pool deck an acrylic-based concrete will add resistance from heat and water elements.
