How to Resurface Cement Stairs by Yourself
Throughout the years, cement stairs can become worn and old looking. Weather, daily walking and use, and the presence of potted plants on the stairs can cause unsightly stains. Resurfacing the stairs provides a more economical option than replacing them, as you will not have to use as much cement. Follow a few simple instruction with some patience to give your cement stairs an updated look. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Nails
- Pressure washer
- Strips of lumber the length of your stairs
- Metal or wooden stakes
- Two buckets
- Coarse sand
- Cement
- Paintbrush
- Plastic sheet
Instructions
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How to resurface cement stairs by yourself
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1
Sweep the stairs thoroughly to determine the location of any loose cement.
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2
Using a chisel and hammer, remove all of the loose cement from the stairs.
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3
Clean the stairs completely. Using the pressure washer, wash the stairs with a 10-inch spray to remove all the dirt, dust and debris.
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4
Determine a thickness for your overlay (the sand-cement mixture you will apply over your stairs); 3/4 inch generally makes for a good overlay thickness.
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5
Lay the pieces of lumber up next to your stairs so that the concrete will not pour over the edges of the stairs, with the top of the wood lying level with your determined final height of your overlay. Lay a piece of lumber against each stair you plan to resurface. To ensure that the front piece of lumber remains stable, use a hammer and nails to attach it to the end pieces of the lumber.
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6
Drive the wooden or metal stakes into the ground, pressing them against the lumber at the outer edges of the stairs to avoid damaging the lower stairs. They will keep the lumber firm against the stairs so the concrete doesn't seep through but will eliminate the necessity of attaching the lumber directly to the stairs.
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7
Combine two parts coarse sand with one part cement in a bucket to make a rich mixture for your overlay.
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8
Add enough water to the sand and cement mixture to allow it to flow out of the bucket easily.
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9
To ensure that the overlay adheres to the cement stairs properly, prepare cement paint by mixing cement and water in a second bucket until it takes on the consistency of paint.
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10
Apply a layer of the cement paint to the stairs using a paintbrush.
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11
Before the cement paint dries, pour your overlay mixture onto the stairs. Remember, the overlay mixture should pour easily out of the bucket.
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12
Allow the cement to dry for about an hour until slightly firm.
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13
Cover the cement tightly with the plastic sheet so that it can cure slowly. Leave the plastic on the cement for several days.
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14
Remove the plastic from the stairs.
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15
Make another batch of cement paint, mixing the water with the cement until it takes on the consistency of paint.
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16
Apply a layer of cement paint to the stairs with a paintbrush to even out the texture. Allow the cement paint to dry completely.
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17
Remove the stakes and the lumber from the sides of the stairs.
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