How To Repair Your Concrete Driveway

Finishing up

Repair and resurface a concrete driveway in a weekend or less. Meliorate Homes and Gardens contributing editor Danny Lipford shows you how.

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DIY Concrete Resurfacing

DIY concrete resurfacing

Though concrete is a durable surface, concrete driveways deteriorate and develop cracks over the years. Rather than going through the expense of removing the slab and pouring a new i, you may be able to repair and resurface the existing concrete.

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Cracks in Concrete

Cracks in concrete

Cracks in concrete tin can be caused by tree roots and soil movement, too as freezing and thawing cycles in the wintertime and expansion during the summer.

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Clean Physical

Clean concrete

Earlier the driveway can be repaired, it must be thoroughly cleaned. A force per unit area washer is a great way to remove mold, mildew, and dirt. Get-go by wetting downwardly the concrete to prevent the cleaner from drying too apace.

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Fill Cleaning Solution Reservoir

Fill up cleaning solution reservoir

Purchase a masonry cleaning solution that includes strong degreasing agents or agents that get rid of plant staining and mold. Add the cleaning solution to the pressure washer reservoir.

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Apply Cleaning Solution

Utilize cleaning solution

Spray the cleaner on the surface of the concrete using a depression-pressure level nozzle following the instructions on the container.

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High-Force per unit area Nozzle

Loftier force per unit area nozzle

Once the cleaner has been practical, attach a high-force per unit area nozzle to the pressure washer.

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Clean Concrete

Clean concrete

Clean the surface of the driveway thoroughly using the high-pressure nozzle and settings. Make clean debris from cracks, and remove whatever clay or loose physical.

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Mix Concrete for Repairs

Mix physical for repairs

Cascade enough dry out concrete mix into a five-gallon bucket to repair whatever cracks and patch damaged areas. Sand mix or physical resurfacer, which practise not contain gravel, may be used if the area to be repaired is non large or deep. A standard physical mix that contains gravel works all-time for patching large or deep areas.

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Concrete Consistency

Concrete consistency

Mix the concrete with water to a thick consistency similar to cookie dough. A mixing paddle chucked in a heavy-duty low-RPM drill makes quick work of preparing the concrete.

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Pour Concrete on Cracks

Pour concrete on cracks

Cascade the mixed concrete in the cracks and damaged areas.

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Fill Cracks

Fill cracks

A flat edged trowel is used to work the mixture into the cracks.

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Smoothen Cracks

Smooth cracks

Once the cracks and other damaged spots have been filled, use the trowel to remove backlog concrete and polish the surface.

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Drying Time

Drying fourth dimension

Allow the concrete used to repair cracks and other damaged areas to dry overnight.

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Mix Resurfacer

Later the repair work is complete, it's time to apply a sparse glaze of resurfacing concrete over the entire driveway. Mix the resurfacer much thinner than the concrete that was used to repair cracks, making it nigh the consistency of pancake concoction. Earlier applying the resurfacer, blow or sweep off any leaves or debris, then moisture the surface down to go along the concrete from drying besides fast.

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Spread Resurfacer

Spread resurfacer

When the driveway is ready, pour the resurfacer out and spread it using a condom duster, working a small expanse at a time. Getting an even coat without lap marks takes practice.

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Finishing Upwards

Finishing up

When the physical begins to set, a broom with an extended handle can be used to give a flake of texture to the surface. This prevents the concrete from becoming slippery when wet. Allow at to the lowest degree six hours drying fourth dimension before walking on the driveway, and 24 hours or more before driving on it.

More projects and communication from Danny Lipford

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