Better Pavement Means Beautiful Home and Efficient Driveway

Symptoms of Deterioration

Concrete is a very popular material for construction work. The combination of cement, stone, sand, glue, and water is a potent mixture. The roofs, floors, driveways, and pavements are built with it. But wear and tear are inevitable for any cement surface, and thus repairs become necessary. Concrete resurfacing is an effective solution for worn out walkways and driveways. The cement mixture covers up cracks and pits to give a new look.

Concrete Resurfacing

Inspection

• The cement surfaces and reinforced concrete structures, eventually crumble.
• The roofing steel corrodes, surface cracks and deep pits are formed.
• Concrete resurfacing is carried out only after a full surface inspection.
• The entire pavement surface is carefully checked for critical areas.
• A visual inspection is sufficient to identify the need for repairs.
• A rough estimate can be prepared from the results of this initial survey.

Evaluation

• Cement structures corrode and deteriorate due to many causes.
• Chemical reactions, surface abrasion, fire, heat, and climate play an important role.
• Traffic overload, the impact of heavy objects, freezing, and thawing is other reasons.
• The resurfacing is successful only if the problem areas are localized.
• Evaluations include cover depth studies and positivity measurements.
• Critical areas are identified by volume changes and loss of support.

Repair Monitoring

• A contractor, builder, or engineer is hired to perform the repairs.
• The expensive and more tedious solution is a completely new surface.
• The more efficient alternative is the durable concrete resurfacing technique.
• This innovative method renders a uniform colour for the patio, sidewalk, or floor.
• It is superior to plain concrete but requires concrete mixing and building skills.
• Large-scale repair projects have to be monitored by expert surface layers.

How to Renew

Mixing plain concrete with mortar, and laying a thin surface is enticing. But this is an amateurish effort which fails in the long run. The plain, old method does not create strong bonds, and the surface cracks up very soon. In contrast, Concrete resurfacing delivers a superior quality with long-lasting results. The builder and workers have to take precautions and carry out skilled work to achieve a durable pavement.

Concrete Resurfacing

Safeguard

• Do not carry out the work in rain, cold or freezing temperatures. The weather has to be warm for at least 8 hours after the completion of repairs.
• Allocate at least one whole day for the concrete resurfacing project. Hire a professional with exceptional cement mixing and surfacing skills.
• Strip off any remnants of paint or sealers from the old surface. Oil and grease should also be removed beforehand for the best results.
• Use fine tools like paddle mixer, squeegee, broom, edging tools, etc., Working in shade or the mild and sunny weather is a definite plus.
• The resurfacing mixture has self-levelling properties and strong adhesives. Colouring agents are suitable if the full surface is being overlaid.

Step Wise Procedure

• Cleaning - Sweep with a broom, and then blast off the remaining dirt to make the surface dry, smooth, and dust free. Use a high-pressure water hose and a concrete wash for algae or mildew.
• Patching -  Water and resurfacing concrete has to be mixed in 1:7 ratio. Blend well in a large bucket and use a paddle mixer. Fill the corners, holes and divots with damp concrete. Smoothen with a hand-held trowel and let it dry for 4 to 5 hours.
• Pour - Cover the pavement joints with rubber weather strip foam. The resurface starts to become thick after 20 minutes. Work with half a bag as it covers about 15 to 17 square feet. Pour the damp mixture in a uniform manner without any overspills.         
• Trowel - Spread the concrete resurfacing for a quarter to 1/8th-inch thickness. Remove the weather stripping after half an hour and let it dry for 6 hours.