How to Finish Sidewalks

Finishing a sidewalk is no simple task.

Installing a concrete sidewalk is not typically a task taken on by most do-it-yourselfers. It involves digging, installing a wood or steel grid and precisely mixing and pouring the concrete. If you've gotten this far on your own, the finishing steps are no more difficult. Allow several hours to complete the finishing process; before you mix and pour the concrete, make sure you have everything you need for finishing the sidewalk.

Things You'll Need

• Wood hand float
• Push broom
• Measuring tape
• Chalk
• Hand groover
• Wood plank
• Concrete sealer
• Tank sprayer

Instructions

1. Wait until the surface of the poured concrete starts to stiffen. With a wooden hand float, work the surface of the concrete in a circular motion until the top is smooth and the larger stones in the mix have settled below the surface.

2. Sweep the surface of the sidewalk with a push broom to give it an even texture.

3. Measure the width of the sidewalk. Use that measurement to mark the locations of the sidewalk joints --- the horizontal lines in cement sidewalks that prevent it from cracking as it dries. If your sidewalk is 3 feet wide, mark a joint every 3 feet with chalk.

4. Lay a wood plank across the sidewalk in a straight line at the first chalk mark. Use a hand groover to make a line at least 1-1/4 inches deep all the way across the sidewalk. Repeat at every chalk mark to make all of the joints.

5. Apply concrete sealer evenly, using a tank sprayer immediately after creating the joints. Allow the sidewalk to dry for 24 hours. It will take four to six weeks for the concrete to reach its full strength.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is a curve in your sidewalk, make a joint in the middle of the bend.

• Each step takes time. For the best results, don't rush the finishing process.

References

• Ask the Builder: Pouring Concrete Sidewalks
• All Things Concrete: Installing Concrete Sidewalks