How to Repair Concrete Chipping

Interior and exterior concrete is subject to everyday use and abuse over the course of the years, and exterior concrete is at the mercy of the weather to boot. These stresses will eventually cause chips and cracks that not only look bad, but can weaken the concrete. Fixing chipped concrete is a relatively easy process, so long as the surrounding concrete is in good condition.

Things You'll Need

• Caulk gun
• Urethane caulk
• Utility knife
• Mineral spirits
• Rag

Instructions

1. Clear debris away from the area. If there is a lot of dirt or dust in or around the chip, you may want to spray the area down with a water hose and let it dry completely.

2. Load the caulk into the caulking gun. To load the caulking gun, pull the plunger of the gun all the way back, then insert the caulk tube with the tube nozzle pointing away from the trigger. Slowly push the plunger back. Most caulk gun plungers will snap into place once they are far enough in.

3. Cut the end of the caulk tube with the utility knife, so that the tip will fit the size of the chipped area. The closer to the base of the tube you cut, the bigger the tip will be.

4. Spread the caulk over the chipped area so that it fills the chip.

5. Dampen a rag with mineral spirits and wipe the surface of the area clean, making sure to clear excess caulk off the surface of the area. Let it sit for a few hours to ensure the caulk has fully set. If the concrete is outside, cover the repaired area with a sheet of plastic to protect it from the weather until it is fully set.

References

• Concrete Network
• Aubuchon Hardware
• Associated Content