Although generally made of one of the strongest building materials on earth, even when newly built concrete walkways can deteriorate from repeated freeze-and-freeze cycles, heavy land movement, or too much weight. In many communities, a third sidewalk classification is in place. This class represents permeable sidewalk material that has been designed to allow drainage of water and ice buildup. In order to qualify as a good quality pavement solution, a sidewalk should have a proper balance of concrete, asphalt, and paving stones or medians to provide maximum stability.
When cracks in concrete sidewalks or driveways become larger over time, they can become a significant hazard for motorists, pedestrians, and businesses. Cracked asphalt and concrete walkways end up with a raised area that is highly visible and hazardous to drivers. In addition, damaged concrete walkways cannot be repaired without creating an unsightly, unprofessional, and unsafe situation. For this reason, many local governments require business owners to hire qualified professionals to repair cracked and damaged concrete walkways and curbs.
DIY
There are a number of DIY repair techniques available for repairing a busted up concrete sidewalk. However, in some cases, it is necessary to consult and hire professional concrete sidewalk repair companies. A quality contractor at Grand Rapid Concrete Elite will offer a variety of services, including installation of a crack repair coating on the surface of the slab, the repair of any damaged or unsightly concrete surface, filling cracks with a blend of crushed rock and epoxy, and application of a protective coating. Depending upon the severity of the damage, some DIY repairs may be more effective than others.
Two of the best DIY repairs to perform air sealing the cracked or broken pavement and leveling the area beneath it. Professional concrete grinders make the process of sealing and leveling much faster and easier, while also increasing the durability of the repairs. This means that the repairs will last longer and be less prone to wear and tear. The following tips will help you achieve the best results when performing your own concrete grinders repairs:
Exterior Sealing Concrete Squares
When it comes to repairing a damaged concrete sidewalk, exterior sealing is an important first step. The purpose of sealing the surface is to prevent future weather damage from eroding the area. Typically, a sealer will be applied to the entire surface, but some two-by-fours and six-by-fours can also be used successfully to seal smaller cracks and to provide a smooth, non-broken surface. In addition, if you live in an area where winter temperatures regularly reach below freezing, then you should consider applying a frost-proof coating to the entire two-by-fours and six-by-fours to avoid frost heaves.
Once the surface has been sealed, then you can begin to repair the cracks. Before you begin applying concrete mixture or trowel marks, you should carefully remove all dirt, debris, or vegetation from the affected area. This includes light sticks, branches, and trash cans. After you have cleared the area, you can begin applying a bonding agent directly to the concrete slab using a trowel or a cement spade.
Apply Bonding Agent
Before beginning the repair work, and you must use appropriate amounts of bonding agents for the area you will be working on. You will need to mix your trowel with three parts of bonding agents to one part cement dust for larger areas you plan to cover with a concrete sidewalk patching mix. You can mix the trowel according to the amount of space you want to cover. After you have mixed the trowel, you will then apply the bonding agent to the trowel with a long, narrow trowel. It is important to make sure that you have applied the right amount of bonding agent to ensure that the patch will completely cure before moving on to working on the next section of the concrete sidewalk.
Repair Stucco Sidewalks
Once you have repaired the entire concrete sidewalk section, it is time to apply the stucco coating. If you are working in a small area, you can use a standard sander to smooth out the stucco until it is smooth. To apply the stucco coating to an entire sidewalk, you will first apply a thin layer of the stucco to the area, which will prevent it from growing back later. Next, begin by removing the initial border sandpaper used to seal the ends of the stucco pieces. Using a spray bottle, apply generous amounts of exterior stucco paint to each piece’s exposed ends. If you notice areas where the stucco paint is not reaching the ends of the sidewalk, you can gently tap the area with a broom to smooth it out the area.
