How to Cover Cement Steps

Protect all of your cement steps.

The best way to protect your steps is to coat them with masonry sealant while they are still in good condition. If you have made the mistake of leaving your steps unprotected, or you have inherited steps already in disrepair, you may be tempted to call in an expensive professional and wash your hands of the matter. But it is quite simple to cover your steps in a new coat of cement, making them appear new again. You can save a good deal of money and time by doing it yourself and also gain skills for future jobs.

Things You'll Need

• Safety goggles
• Protective gloves
• Siliconized latex caulk (optional)
• Prepared cement patch product (optional)
• Sledgehammer
• Cold chisel
• Broom and dustpan or garden hose
• Concrete or cement bonding agent
• Paintbrush
• Bucket
• Shovel
• Cement product
• Water
• Metal trowel
• Plastic tarp
• Fine-mist spray bottle or fine mister attachment for garden hose
• Masonry sealant

Instructions

1. Put on a pair of safety goggles and a pair of protective gloves. Your arms and legs should be completely covered.

2. Caulk any cracks in your steps with a siliconized latex caulk before applying a new coat of cement, or they will continue to corrode from within. Patch any holes or pitted areas and allow the patches to cure completely before covering your steps with a new coat of cement.

3. Use a sledgehammer and a cold chisel to knock any remaining loose or disintegrating cement from the edges of your steps. Use these tools to undercut a "v" shape onto the face of each step beneath the edge of each. This creates a surface for the new cement to "grab" onto so that it does not slide off of the vertical surface due to gravity.

4. Clean all dirt, dust and cement debris from the area; you can use a broom and a dustpan or spray the area down with a garden hose and allow it to dry completely.

5. Apply a thin, even coat of concrete or cement bonding agent to all of the steps using a large paintbrush.

6. In a bucket, with a shovel, mix together your chosen cement product and the amount of water directed by the packaging.

7. Use a metal trowel to scoop up the prepared cement and apply a level, even coat all over each step. Remember to cover the vertical surfaces as well. Smooth the surface of the cement with the flat side of the trowel. Allow this coat to cure for two hours, then apply a second coat in the same way. Wait half an hour.

8. Cover the steps completely with a large plastic tarp and allow the new cement to cure for one week. Each day, remove the tarp and gently spray the steps with water using a fine-mist spray bottle or a garden host with a find mister attachment. This will ensure an even curing.

9. After seven days, remove the tarp. Remember to protect your new steps with an application of masonry sealant and allow them to dry completely before using them.

References

• On the House with the Carey Bros. & Rebecca Cole: Repairing Concrete Steps