How to Resurface Sidewalks

Resurface your sidewalks to prevent cracks from creating tripping hazards.

Sidewalks develop cracks over time due to the earth under them settling. If the change is great enough, you may need to resurface sidewalks not only for aesthetic reasons, but for safety's sake, as well. Sidewalk resurfacing is a project that's not difficult, but it does help if you have some experience working with concrete. To resurface concrete properly, the old concrete needs to provide a solid foundation for the new concrete surface. Preparation is the key to making that happen.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Power washer with "0" tip
• Dish detergent
• Bucket
• Scrub brush
• Garden hose
• 1-by-3 inch furring strips
• Stakes
• Portland cement
• Sand
• Aggregate
• Mixing container
• Trowel
• 2-by-4 inch board
• Plastic sheeting

Instructions

1. Remove all loose concrete pieces from the sidewalk with a broom. Use a hammer and chisel to break off loose edges. If you prefer, use a "0" tip on the nozzle of a power washer to blast away loose concrete. Power washers are available for rental at most hardware stores.

2. Wash the sidewalk with a mixture of a few drops of dish detergent in a gallon of water. Remove all oily stains by scrubbing them with the detergent mixture. If necessary, use a stronger concentration of detergent. Rinse the sidewalk with your garden hose, and allow the sidewalk to air dry.

3. Position 1-by-3 inch furring strips along the outside edge of the sidewalk to serve as concrete forms. Adjust the top of the furring strip so that it is level with where you want the additional concrete. Hold the furring strips in place with stakes driven into the ground beside them. Adjust the furring strips to provide a level surface, but do make one side slightly lower than the other to allow for drainage from the sidewalk.

4. Mix the concrete by putting two parts sand and one part Portland cement together in a mixing container. Add three parts aggregate if you like. Add enough water to make the mixture the consistency of pancake batter. Stir well.

5. Remove a small portion of the concrete from the mixing container. Thin it to the consistency of paint by adding more water and stirring. You now have thinner and thicker mixtures of concrete.

6. Pour the paint-like concrete over the sidewalk. Use an old paintbrush to spread the concrete over the entire surface. This helps to bond the concrete mixture to the old concrete.

7. Pour the thicker concrete over the sidewalk before the paint-like layer dries. Use a trowel to work the concrete to the sides of the sidewalk.

8. Lay an old 2-by-4 inch board across the sidewalk. Set it on top of the furring strips. Work it back and forth as a screed to further level the concrete on the sidewalk.

9. Use an old broom to add texture to the new sidewalk surface. If you prefer, you can leave the surface smooth and skip this step.

10. Cover the entire sidewalk with plastic sheeting. Use stones to anchor the sheeting off to the side of the sidewalk. Allow the resurfaced sidewalk to cure for several days before removing the sheeting. The amount of time depends on temperature and humidity.

Tips & Warnings

• The size of any aggregate stones in the concrete mixture should never be larger than 1/3 the depth of the concrete pour. If you are using a thin amount of concrete for sidewalk resurfacing, leave out the aggregate. In some cases, sand particles may be too large to work as aggregate.

• Try to resurface sidewalks on days that are cloudy with temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

• If your sidewalk has control joints or expansion joints, place weather stripping across them before you pour the concrete to protect the joints.

• Wear protective eyewear when chipping away old concrete.

• Wear gloves to protect your hands when working with concrete.

References

• Ask the Builder: Resurfacing Concrete