How to Patch Concrete
Although concrete is a durable material, it is quite common for cracks to form, especially in outdoor concrete, which is exposed to a lot of moisture. Over time, this moisture seeps into the concrete, causing the concrete to crack during contraction and expansion. Patching concrete at the first sight of a crack can prevent further problems down the road. If the crack is not repaired, it will only get larger over time, making the concrete susceptible to bigger problems. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wire brush
- Broom
- Garden hose
- Detergent
- Concrete filler
- Caulk gun
- Plastic or metal scrapper
- Trowel
- Plastic sheeting
- Premixed concrete
- Large bucket
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Instructions
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¼ inch to ½-inch Cracks
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1
Clean the area around the crack. Use a wire brush to scrub the area to remove loose concrete and other debris. Sweep away the debris with a broom. Hose down the area with plain water to further remove dirt and debris. If oil is in or around the crack, clean the area with water and detergent to remove the oil. Allow the area to thoroughly dry prior to patching.
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2
Use a concrete filler to patch the crack. These sealants generally come in a tube similar to that of caulk. Place the tube into a caulk gun.
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3
Squeeze a liberal amount of the filler into the crack. The crack should be filled enough so that it is overflowing with the filler.
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4
Go over the crack with a plastic or metal scraper. Run the scraper back and forth over the crack, applying pressure, to force the filler deep into the crack. Do this several times until the filler is smooth with the surface. Add more filler, if necessary.
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5
Allow the filler to sit for about one hour. Run a trowel over the crack to remove any excess filler.
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6
Cover the repaired area with plastic sheeting. Lift up the sheeting once a day for five days and lightly mist the area with water.
Cracks Larger than ½-inch
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7
Clean out the crack thoroughly. Use a wire brush to remove loose concrete and debris. Sweep away the debris with a broom. Clean the crack with a garden hose as well to further remove dirt and debris. Use detergent and water if oil is present in the crack.
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8
Mix up a batch of premixed concrete into a large bucket. You can generally buy premixed concrete at most home improvement centers in 60- or 90-pound bags. Follow the label's instructions for mixing. Although it is labeled as "premixed," you will need to add water.
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Pour the concrete mixture directly into the crack. Fill the crack with the concrete until it is overflowing.
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10
Run a trowel over the crack to smooth out the concrete, forcing it as far into the crack as possible. Go over the crack several times until the new concrete is flush with the existing concrete. Allow it to sit for about an hour, then remove any excess from the area using the trowel.
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11
Place a piece of plastic sheeting over the crack. Lift the sheeting once a day for five days and lightly mist with water.
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