DIY Fixes for Covering Painted Concrete on a Patio

Cover painted and cracked concrete with a concrete overlay.

Painted concrete patios often lose their lovely patina with age. Other times, a homeowner may simply want a change. Whatever the reason, there are do-it-yourself solutions for covering a painted concrete patio. The easiest is a self-leveling concrete overlay. With some patience and a little assistance, revamping your patio is no problem.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Concrete primer
• Paint roller with ¼ inch nap
• Push broom
• Self-leveling concrete
• Bucket
• Drill
• Concrete spreader
• Steel concrete smoother

Instructions

1. Sweep the painted concrete patio thoroughly, removing all debris such as leaves, dirt and small pebbles.

2. Paint a layer of concrete primer over the painted patio using a paint roller with a ¼-inch nap. Have your assistant spread the primer into the pores and dips of the concrete with a push broom. Brush away excess primer to avoid pooling. Allow the primer to dry for four hours.

3. Combine self-leveling concrete with the amount of water specified on the package, reserving 10 percent of the water. Use a drill to mix the self leveling concrete with the water until the mixture is no longer lumpy.

4. Pour the remaining 10 percent of the water into the concrete mixture and continue stirring for about two more minutes until the mixture is very smooth.

5. Adjust the concrete spreader to ¼ inch. This will keep the self-leveling concrete even.

6. Pour the self-leveling concrete mixture across the painted concrete patio, pulling the spreader along behind you to smooth the concrete.

7. Smooth the concrete with a steel concrete smoother to avoid bubbles, surface tension and pin holes. This should be done immediately after pouring the concrete. Allow the self-leveling concrete to dry for at least four hours before walking on it.

References

• All Concrete: How to Mix and Install Self Leveling Concrete