How to Cover a Concrete Patio

A cover of new concrete can make your patio look like new.

If you clean your patio regularly, but find that it does not look as neat and tailored as you'd like, you might want to consider covering it with a new application of concrete. This form of resurfacing can make it look brand-new. However, if there are large cracks or other major damage to your existing patio, have your home examined for foundation trouble by an expert before continuing.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon-bristled brush
• Water
• Liquid dish detergent
• Garden hose
• Rough-grit sandpaper
• Broom
• Concrete bonding agent
• Long-handled paint roller
• Prepared concrete
• Metal trowel
• Metal finishing trowel

Instructions

1. Scrub the patio clean with a nylon-bristled brush and a mixture of water and liquid dish detergent. Rinse the patio well with a garden hose. Allow the patio to air dry for two days so that no moisture is left behind.

2. Examine your patio for areas that are jagged or not level. Lightly sand these areas with rough-grit sandpaper until they are corrected. Use a broom to sweep the patio free of any resulting debris.

3. Apply an even coat of concrete bonding agent in straight lines over the surface of the patio with a long-handled paint roller. Work from the edge nearest the home or other structure toward the outside. Allow the bond to become tacky.

4. Cover the patio with a thin layer of prepared concrete using a metal trowel. Make the application of concrete as even as possible. Smooth the concrete by rubbing it with the flat part of the trowel in arching motions.

5. Wait approximately half an hour for the first layer of concrete to begin to set. Apply a second, slightly thicker layer of concrete over the top. Exchange the regular trowel for a metal finishing trowel and smooth the surface of the patio to its final finish; let the concrete cure for five to seven days.

Tips & Warnings

• Protect your newly-covered patio with masonry sealer.

References

• Ask the Builder: Installing Concrete Overlays
• ConcreteNetwork: Decorative Concrete Overlays
• Home Decorating Coach Where Interior Design Meets Real Life!: Create a Faux Finish for a Concrete Floor