Top 3 Ways to Repair Concrete

While there are so many ways to go about residential concrete repair, it really depends on how seriously it is damaged and where the damage occurs. Here are our top three ways to go about concrete repair!

Repairing Your Driveway

Step 1

Use a chisel to make the crack wider at the bottom than at the top of the damaged area. Place your cold chisel directly into the crack, then angle it outward ever so slightly, and tap it with a light sledge hammer.

Step 2

Fill the crack with either patching mix or vinyl concrete. You’ll want to dampen the areas around the crack, then slowly trowel on the mixture. You can smooth the surface of the vinyl concrete with a small float or a trowel.

Step 3

Your next step would be to address and rid your repair of any pop-outs, which are small chunks of concrete that may have popped out and left a hole behind. Using your sledgehammer, you’ll want to undercut any holes by widening the pop-out the same way as in step one (wider at the bottom).

Step 4

Wet the surface and apply a concrete bonding agent with a paintbrush. It’ll take 10-15 minutes for it to get sticky.

Step 5

Take your putty knife and smooth the surface. After smoothing, pack in a layer of anchoring cement.

*There are TONS of driveway repair options in Denver you can check out as well!

Repairing a Wall

Step 1

Be sure to clean and prepare your cracked wall before going any further. You can use a wire brush to clean it then vacuum or power wash the area to remove debris.

Step 2

Apply a type of masonry adhesive in the inner surface of the crack, then patch with pre-mixed concrete. Do not leave a depression along the surface.

Step 3

Seal with a manufactured sealant. Epoxy products work best, but you can vie for some other type of sealant.

Foam Jacking Repair (for Sunken Concrete)

Step 1

Mark the affected area with chalk from the low point of the sinking, to the beginning point of the slag, making sure you space your marks every six inches

Step 2

Drill a hole through the concrete vertically with a low rpm drill so you don’t crack the base of the slab.

Step 3

Extend the hose from the pump down the hole at the highest point until it reaches the soil underneath, avoiding running into the soil. Fill with polyurethane (foam) mixture.

Step 4

Repeat pumping process until the slump is level.

Step 5

Mix together a small amount of fast-setting concrete, and add it to the holes left behind from drilling into the slab. Allow 48 hours for curing before setting anything heavy on it.

*When using polyurethane to repair concrete, keep foam jacking in Denver in mind before making any decisions about repairing by foam jacking!

Repairing concrete doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you go about it the right way. You can do it yourself if you just follow these few steps!