When your driveways become populated with cracks and potholes of all sizes, you have to do something very quickly. The best step to take to fix these issues would be resurfacing driveways. Often, cracks and pits develop in concrete structures if the mix has too much water or it’s weakening. With that in mind, resurfacing is only a great option if your concrete isn’t cracking all the way.
Why Resurfacing Driveways is Important
Resurfacing your concrete driveway can save you at least 25% of the cost of replacing the entire driveway. That surely is a better prospect particularly if you’re on a tight budget. Cracks in the concrete slabs are a common issue and leave the surface of the concrete unsightly and can really become an eye-sore. Also, they can become a health hazard, with the risk of a loved one tripping is left unchecked.
You can use a concrete resurfacer to coat the slab, which is often a combination of polymer additives; sand, and cement that fills all the holes and makes the surface appear uneven. Naturally, this mix is dark in color. You should, therefore, buy enough to cover your entire driveway. A general rule of thumb is a 40-pound bag for about 35 square feet of area.
If you wish to change the color just add some concrete tint. Once you have everything at hand, ensure you follow the steps below to resurface your driveway:
1. Clean the Area
Before you get started with resurfacing, you must strip your driveway to get rid of any paint or sealers. Also, you have to look at the weather report since the temperature ought to ideally be at least 50 degrees for a proper 8 hours. The temperature also needs to be at about 20 degrees for the next 24 hours.
For this reason, resurfacing should be done in the summer. Resurfacing ought not to take more than one day but once it’s complete, your driveway will be as appealing as new.
2. Blast off the dirt from the surface
The next step is to blast off the dirt from your driveway. Ensure you put on a pair of heavy boots and protect glasses before you begin the task using high-pressure water at 3.5K PSI. If you don’t have a powered washing machine, you can rent it for this work. Fit a 25-degree tip and hold it at about 8 inches from the driveway and turn it on.
You must clean the surface with slow but even sweeps. The idea here is to remove algae, dirt, and mildew from the surface
3. Mix up the Resurfacer
Mixing up the resurface is the most important part of resurfacing your concrete driveway. While the driveway is still wet, mix up the right quantity of resurfacer and then mix one unit of water with around seven units of resurfacer in a bucket. Utilize a paddle mixer fixed to a drill to mix it. From there, fill all the recesses with the resurfacer and use a trowel to smooth it. Next, apply this mixture to the driveway.
4. Fill your Driveway
You’ll require filling the joints on your driveway with peel and stick foam. You also need to dampen the concrete if it has already dried. Remember that you have 20 minutes to apply the resurfacer. Therefore, pour the mixture without delay onto your driveway. After that, start spreading the resurfacer until it’s around 0.125 (1/8) inches thick.
For a slip-resistant finish, you should wait for about 5 minutes before sweeping with a thick nylon bristle broom on the freshly resurfaced driveway. The weather-stripping can be removed after 20 minutes and then wait for about 6 hours before you walk on it.
Conclusion
The above are the steps you should follow to resurface your concrete driveway. You should research well to ensure you’re following precise instructions. If you don’t any skills or time to handle the work on your own, it’s important that you hire a professional. Resurfacing driveways with the help of a professional allows you to free up time to focus on other important things, save money, and enjoy a durable and lasting driveway.