con how to resurface concrete with our expert advice and give new liveliness to your previous patio in just one weekend .

Marty Baldwin

A wobbly , crack patio can put a damper onsummer merriment . reform the space and facilitate it look like Modern with our concrete resurfacing how - to . To give your patio a new letting on lifespan , utilize a concrete overlay chemical compound that cleave to existing concrete . We ’ll guide you step - by - step through how to resurface a concrete patio — plus volunteer a few expert tips along the path .

Resurfaced patio with firepit

Credit:Marty Baldwin

If your terrace concrete is just defile or mismatched in color , observe the same prepping operation as you would for resurface concrete . Clean the concrete with a power automatic washer and concrete cleaner for really tough brand . Then , you have the choice to stain the concrete oruse concrete paint to paint over stainsfor like - new ornamental concrete options . The unconscious process below is recommended for flat Earth’s surface only . Using the compound on pigeonhole concrete terrace will cut across up grain , colors , and seams .

What You Need

Step 1: Crack Loose Mortar

Before you set off resurfacing concrete , you ’ll take to take care of any unstable parts of the patio . Use a brick chisel to break away cracked or free trench mortar in region that were previously patched . pass over disordered piece of music into a dustpan and discard .

Step 2: Clean Concrete

swing out any detritus off the terrace surface with a Calluna vulgaris . Then thoroughly clean the concrete with a high - strengthpressure washer . Pay close attention to areas of the patio underneath trees , bush , or other mussy plant — fallen leaves and petal may need a little supernumerary power to bump .

Step 3: Fill In the Gaps

commingle up a concrete repair patching chemical compound per the manufacturer ’s instructions , andfill any holes or crack . The miscellanea should fix up about a quarter - in . provide the repaired field to harden . Then section off your patio into workplace areas that are no large than 144 square feet . Use restraint joints and expansion joint to serve you fix the workplace area . stigmatize any areas that will not be spread over with concrete resurfacer .

Step 4: Apply Concrete Resurfacer

Mix concrete resurfacing pulverisation and water — following maker ’s instructions — in a 5 - gallon pail with a drill and boat paddle social . impregnate the patio surface with piss , but remove any areas of standing water . Pour the terrace resurfacing chemical compound onto the patio , and spread with a long - handle squeegee . The mixture should be 1/16 to 1/8 inch compact . Use a wallpaper skirmish to cover corners and edges .

Within five minutes of apply the concrete resurfacer ( the surface should be somewhat unshakable but still malleable ) , drag a get-up-and-go broom or masonry brush over the work area . deplume the broom toward you , ready certain that each stroke perish the full aloofness of the study country and all the broom strokes go in the same instruction . Wait at least six hours after resurfacing concrete before walk on the terrace .

Using chisel to loose cracked mortar

Credit:Marty Baldwin

Power washing patio

Credit:Marty Baldwin

Filling in patio cracks with concrete

Credit:Marty Baldwin

Apply concrete resurfacer

Credit:Marty Baldwin