Things You'll Need:
- Ready mix concrete
- Wooden float
- Work gloves
- Small sledge hammer
- Bricks or wooden stakes to hold form boards in place
- Plastic sheeting
- Concrete bonding agent
- Wheelbarrow or concrete mixer
- Eye protection
- Cold chisel
- 1-by-4-inch lumber for form boards
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Step 1
Remove all the loose and crumbling concrete from the edge. Use a cold chisel and a small sledgehammer to break off any loose pieces and get rid of them.
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Step 2
Prepare some "form boards" out of 1-by-4-inch lumber. The top of the form board will be lined up level with the edge of the step, and it should be slightly longer than the damaged section.
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Step 3
Spread clean motor oil on the form boards. This will prevent the concrete patch from sticking to the board. Then install the board with the top edge even with the top of the step.
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Step 4
Hold the form board in place with a couple of bricks or stones (if it's on the front edge), or by driving a wooden stake into the ground and fastening it to the form board (if the repair is along the side of the step).
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Step 5
Paint the area to be patched with a concrete bonding agent (available at home stores). This acts like glue and helps the concrete patching material bond or join to the old concrete.
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Step 6
Prepare a batch of ready mix concrete patching material in a wheelbarrow or concrete mixer while the concrete bonding agent is "setting up." Follow the manufacturer's directions to ensure that you get the right consistency.
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Step 7
Use a wooden float to firmly pack the concrete patch material into the area to be repaired, and smooth the surface even with the top of the form board.
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Step 8
Allow the concrete to set for about 30 minutes and then use an old broom, a whisk or a stiff paintbrush to create a slightly rough surface on the patch to help prevent slips.
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Step 9
Cover the patched area with a sheet of heavy plastic or a tarp and leave it in place for a few days--just removing it once a day to spray the patch with a mist of water. This will ensure the concrete dries slowly. If concrete dries too fast, it will crack.
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Step 10
Wait a week, remove the form board and bricks, and admire your new, crisp and clean concrete corners and edges.







