Guide

How to resurface your concrete?

Travailleur appliquant une couche de béton sur une surface extérieure, à l’aide d’un rouleau fixé à un manche long, avec un seau à portée de main.

The harsh winter finally ended and left us with crumbled and damaged concrete surfaces. Whether for your small driveway, sidewalk, or terrace slightly damaged or worn it can be expensive and take a long time to replace them. Spring is a good time to resurface concrete. In this article, we guide you on the key steps to successfully resurface concrete, to transform the appearance and longevity of your space.

What is concrete resurfacing?

Concrete resurfacing is a renovation technique that restores damaged, worn or aged concrete surfaces. This method consists of applying a new layer of material to the existing one, offering an almost new finish, without requiring the complete replacement of the structure.

When to opt for concrete resurfacing?

Resurfacing is a good option when the problem is minor and damage can easily be repaired. For example in cases of minor cracks, small holes, stains or discolorations.

However, it is preferable to replace a concrete driveway, floor or patio when the problems are more complex to repair, threaten the concrete structure or are numerous and extensive. For example, when several large cracks are present, the surface is very uneven, signs indicate that the concrete slab has not been properly installed or that the concrete does not effectively support its weight load.

How to resurface the concrete?

Le bout d'une laveuse à haute pression en action, nettoyant visiblement la saleté d’une surface carrelée.

1. Surface preparation

Before applying the new coating, it is crucial to properly prepare the concrete surface. This step consists of cleaning the surface by removing crumbled concrete and oil or grease stains that can compromise the adhesion of the new material. You can use a pressure washer that is effective at removing debris or a soft-bristled nylon brush to treat the toughest stains without damaging the concrete structure.

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Seau couvert de résidus de ciment contenant du béton gris frais et un batteur utilisé pour mélanger, sur un fond flou avec des débris.

2. Material preparation

To begin the second step, calculate the width of the surface to be covered in order to prepare the right amount of concrete. Then, in a 20-liter bucket, pour the entire liquid component before gradually introducing the dry mixture. Once the liquid is in place, add the dry mixture and mix well with a mixer mounted on a drill for at least three minutes. Attention - when the two parts have been totally combined, you will get a grout.

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Rouleau saturé avec le mélange liquide étalant un revêtement de béton sur un sol. Un travailleur professionnel est au fond de l'image tenant le rouleau.

3. Application of the surfacing

If you opt for a trowel application, use only 70% of the liquid part, no mesh is needed. To begin with, apply the first layer with a roller and let harden for two to six hours. When surfacing grouts, use a hard bristle brush or broom, while for mortars use a flat trowel. After the second layer smooth the surface with a dry sponge to obtain a uniform finish.

Watch out for frost! It is better not to undertake your work requiring concrete or mortar when the temperature is below 5 degrees, this can make the concrete or mortar more brittle after curing.

Tools needed

Find the tools used for this project