How to repair and resurface concrete slab cracks

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford talks about concrete cracks and resurfacing in this video tutorial. See how to repair and resurface concrete slab cracks.

Most driveways and patios develop a crack or two in the concrete over the years. These can be caused by everything from tree roots and movement of the soil to freezing and thawing cycles in the winter. Rather than breaking up the slab and pouring a new one, you might want to consider repairing it using a concrete resurfacer.

Start by using a pressure washer to remove any mold, mildew, and dirt. After wetting down the slab, a special masonry cleaning solution is added to the reservoir on the pressure washer and sprayed on the surface.

Once the cleaner has been applied, a high pressure nozzle is attached to the washer and the surface is thoroughly cleaned. Be sure to clean out the cracks out as well, removing any dirt or loose concrete so the patching material will adhere to the concrete.

Next, mix up enough Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer with water in a five-gallon bucket to fill the cracks.

A mixing paddle chucked in a ½” drill makes preparing the patching material easy.

Make the mixture a thick consistency, and pour in on the cracks.

Use a flat edge trowel to force the mixture deep into the cracks. Then smooth out the surface.

After allowing the material to dry overnight, a much thinner batch of resurfacer is mixed up. Before applying it, wet the concrete down to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Once everything is ready, the resurfacer is spread on the slab using a rubber squeegee. Getting a nice even coat without lap mark can take a bit of practice.

When the resurfacer starts to set up, a broom with an extended handle can be used to give the fresh concrete surface texture and prevent it from becoming slippery when wet.

The resurfacer can handle foot traffic after it has set up for about six hours, and cars can drive on it once it has cured for 24 hours.