Long Lasting Concrete Repair. What I mean to say is that it is possible to expect a 2. That isn't so bad if you ask me. The trick to a long lasting concrete repair lies in bonding the new material to the old material. Yes, I know you already probably knew that, however, the point needs to be stressed. Many people think that the new patching material will magically stick to the old concrete.
Repair Concrete Steps. Depending on the shape your steps are in, you may need to do one of the following tasks. To avoid disturbing the patch as you remove the form. How do you build concrete front porch steps? To build concrete front porch steps. Use an edger to smooth out the surface of the steps. Use concrete patch putty to fix any problems. Learn more about Outdoor. You need to understand the process of bonding.
The Magic Crystals. The concrete that makes up your steps, driveway, sidewalk, etc. The cement is the glue that holds the sand and gravel together. It does this my reacting chemically with the water that you add to the mixture. As soon as you add water to cement powder, a chemical reaction begins to happen.
Very tiny crystals begin to form. These crystals interlock with one another and lock into and onto any irregularities of the sand and gravel particles. The more crystals that form, the stronger the bond will be. Hmmmm, did I say more crystals? Well, you can get more crystals if you don't skimp on the cement!
You can also increase your chances of success with concrete patching if you keep wallpaper in the back of your mind. Concrete Glue. Have you ever seen those home repair shows on TV? Some show the fairy tale couple who mix a concrete batch up and pour it into a hole. If we were to go back and do an autopsy of the patch, we would see lots of stones from the new mix that are touching the old concrete.
There would not necessarily be a uniform amount of cement paste coating the old concrete. This is the primary reason for most concrete patch failures. As soon as you understand that you must glue the old concrete to the new mix, you will be on your way.
There are several ways to accomplish this. You can do it the old fashioned way which, I might add works very well, or you can choose to use some newer additives or bonding agents to your concrete mix. The old method of securing a patch involves simply mixing up a cement paint. Nothing could be simpler. You take Portland cement, add water until you have a paint consistency, and then brush this onto the area to be patched.
Of course, the area to be patched should be ready to go. This means that the old concrete must be free of all loose stones and grit, free of all dust, and finally slightly damp. Just before you are ready to install the concrete patching compound, you simply paint a thin coat of the cement paint onto the clean, solid, damp old concrete. The patching compound is then added.
The result, as long as you finish it, cure it, and protect it, will be a long lasting patch. Bonding Agents. If you wish not to use the cement paint method, you can use many of the acrylic bonding agents that are available. These chemicals are not much different than the resins used in paints. Yes, paints are glues too!
They stick to walls, don't they? There are bonding agents that you add to the patching compound, and there are bonding agents that you paint onto the old concrete. You can actually use both, if you wish. These compounds work very well if you follow instructions to the letter. Often, the agents, that are painted onto the old concrete, must cure slightly before you add the patching compound.
They are usually a milky white color when you paint them on. Depending upon the temperature, wind, and humidity, they then become clear.
When the agent turns clear you can then add the patching compound. Pinning the Patch. Large concrete patches such as a step, corner of a driveway, sidewalk, or patio must be attached to the old concrete with a mechanical pin. The cement glue or additives alone will not do the job. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings.
Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article Steps. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: August 4, Clean the damaged portion of the concrete step. Remove all loose gravel, sand, dirt, and cement with a clean, stiff wire brush. You can also tap lightly with a hammer or use a hammer and chisel. Make a form. Screw 2 short pieces of 1 inch by 6 inch 2. Align the wood form.
Place the wood form against the damaged corner of the concrete step so it is flush with the top of the step. Tape the form to the step firmly with duct tape.
Lubricate the form. Spray a coat of cooking oil spray on the inside of the wood form to prevent the wood from sticking to the new concrete. Apply bonding liquid. Use a paint brush to apply a thick coat of latex bonding liquid on the damaged portion of the concrete step were you will be applying the new concrete.
Prepare quick-setting cement. Mix a small amount of quick-setting cement in a plastic bucket according to the instructions on the packaging.
Do not use pre-mixed vinyl cement repair because it shrinks and will not hold weight. These vinyl fillers are best used to fill holes in stucco walls where no one is walking over them.
Dampen the area. Moisten the area where you are going to be adding the new cement so that the existing concrete will not draw the moisture out of the wet cement, making it less likely to harden properly. Apply the cement. Use a pointed trowel to scoop the cement onto the damaged portion of the step and press it into the wood form. The corners and edges of stair noses can chip away through ordinary use. The abuse can be even more pronounced when heavy items like boxes and hand trucks are hauled up and down the steps.
Repairing your concrete steps is simply a natural component of the steps' lifecycle. You can repair cracked or chipped concrete steps quickly and easily with a few basic materials and tools found at your local home center. Concrete steps whose tread noses or corners are chipped can be repaired by first cleaning the area, then sculpting a replacement section with concrete and a margin trowel. For small repairs, no form is necessary. The trick to a successful repair without using a form is two-fold: preparation and rapid sculpting.
First, the concrete area to be repaired must be flawlessly cleaned of all debris, dirt, dust, and moss, as any of those can cause the repair section to fail. Second, since concrete sets quickly, you will need to work relatively quickly. Concrete becomes hard to the touch in about ten minutes. Plan the contours of your intended patch before you mix up the concrete. Besides the risk of injury to yourself or your family, you are legally liable for injuries that occur on your property. Keep yourself, visitors, and delivery people safe by repairing your concrete steps.
From a physical standpoint, once the concrete has been allowed to deteriorate in a minor way—through spalling flaking or peeling , small breaks or chips, de-lamination, cracking, or blistering—further deterioration occurs exponentially.
Catching the problem early on is critical to preventing rebuilding the steps entirely. Your community may not require you to apply for a building permit for minor concrete step repairs.
Whether or not you are required to have a building permit for the project, you should always adhere to the building code pertaining to steps. In the interests of safety, hazardous concrete steps should be repaired immediately. Be mindful of the temperature ranges of the concrete repair product you will be using. Concrete applied below 45 F or above 90 F often may not cure or will cure exceedingly slowly. Avoid breathing concrete products' dust since exposure may irritate eyes, nose, and lungs.
To protect the hands, wear latex or latex-substitute gloves. Always wear safety glasses. Be careful when pressure washing your concrete stairs as the impact of water can further damage your steps.
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