Concrete Repair

Concrete repair is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. You do not need any special technique for concrete repair.  The only physical asset you require is a strong back since concrete is quite heavy and tiring especially when you have to mix it.

You may require a few tools and some concrete repair material, but there may be slight differences in tools and materials depending upon the type of repair. You need to use different techniques for various sizes of cracks.

Tools needed for concrete repair

• Chisel
• Wire brush
• Sledge hammer
• Putty knife
• Trowel
• Shovel
• Broom
• Knee pad
• Edger
• Jointer
• Wheelbarrow
• Caulk gun
• Knee pads
• Dust mask
• Safety glasses
• Tamper

Materials

• Sand
• Gravel
• Concrete mix
• Masonry crack filler
• Vinyl Concrete patch
• Concrete cleaner
• Latex bonding agent
• Quick setting cement
• Material for forms

If the cracks are narrow

1.  Take your brush and broom and mop up the loose garbage from and around the crack.

2. It is always better to buy crack fillers to mend narrow cracks. Ready made cracks fillers that can be used in caulking guns are easily available.

Alternately, you can buy a vinyl concrete patching compound that does not require any bonding agent. Smooth the rough patches with a putty knife after the cracks have been filled.

If the cracks are wide

Take the following 6 steps

• Take a small sledgehammer and a chisel. Cut the crack below its edges so as to make it broader at its base than at its opening.

• Take a brush and broom and remove the debris from crack and its surrounding region. Run a jet of water to wash off the debris.

• Take vinyl patching compound and mix it according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Use a trowel to push it into the crack.

• Remove the air bubbles with a tamper. In case you are using patching mortar, you should mix with a bonding agent, but not with water.

• Make the mixture smooth with a trowel.

• After the patch has consolidated, make it and its surrounding region smooth with a brush.

Repairing an edge of a walk or a step

You can repair a damaged edge of walk or a step and bring it back to its original shape. The process of repair here is the same as filling the cracks with the only difference that you need the use of a form.

Follow the below mentioned steps

1. Clear the broken or damaged concrete with a sledge hammer and a chisel. Cut the under part of the edges of the broken area, as mentioned above.
2. Using a brush and broom, clean the crack and its surrounding region. Wash it clean with a jet of water.
3. Secure the edge of the walk or the step by placing a piece of wood as a form on the side of the area you want to repair.
4. Place bricks or some other heavy article to hold the form in its position. 
5. Read the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual for mixing the compound and fill the area to be repaired with a trowel.
6. Remove the air pockets with a tamper.
7. In case you use patching mortar in place of vinyl patching compound, mix it with a bonding agent, but not with water.
8. Place the form in line with the surface, and smooth it with a trowel.
9. After the patch has become strong, remove the form and smooth the surface of the patch with a brush so as to harmonize it with the concrete in the surrounding area.