How To Resurface Concrete Slabs

Old, dirty and cracked concrete can certainly be an eye sore. Even worse, it can be dangerous and violate certain building codes. There are many great reasons to resurface your concrete. Luckily, with a few tools and a willingness to get sweat a little bit, you can resurface your concrete by yourself. This article explains the best tools and steps to follow when resurfacing a worn-out concrete surface.

Clean the Concrete

The first step is to clean your concrete thoroughly. Sweeping it with a push broom is not enough. You will need a shop vacuum or powerful hose vacuum to suck up any loose chunks of concrete. If there are large chunks of the concrete that are dislodged, you should glue them down. You don't want to be filling large holes and gaps with the resurfacer. A concrete epoxy will create a very strong hold on loose chunks. Let the epoxy dry for a full day before applying the resurfacer.

Using and Mixing Concrete Resurfacer

Concrete resurfacer comes in large bags. All you need to do is add water. Using 5-gallon buckets, mix the resurfacer according to the manufacturers specifications (the should be on the bag). If you have ever mixed normal concrete before, you will notice that the resurfacer is much runnier. It is supposed to be like this, so don't worry.

Spreading the Resurfacer

If you are resurfacing a large patch of concrete, you should use a squeegee broom. However, make sure you section off the concrete slabs as they were originally cut. That is, make sure you do not resurface over any control joints. You can tape off the joints or fill them with dirt to prevent resurfacing over them. Working on large patches is ease with a squeegee broom because you don't need to bend down and the resurface is self-leveling. However, smaller patches that require the use a handheld squeegee are a little more troublesome.

If you want to add a textured finish to your concrete, you will want to do it about 10 minutes after the resurfacer has been applied. There are various concrete surfacing tools, but many people prefer the smooth finish left by the squeegee. If your floor was particularly cracked and worn out, you may want to apply a second coat.

As long as it does not immediately rain on your newly resurfaced area, you will be able to enjoy the look of fresh concrete. Contact a company like Epoxy Stone Inc for more information.