How To Repair Concrete Cracks And Leveling

Ethan

Ever since Jocie and I purchased our home in 2006 the concrete stoop has had this long, ugly crack, and this past summer some yellow-jackets tried to take upwardly residence within the crack. That was enough for me to bump the concrete repair to the front of my to-do list.

If you lot await around online, the typical repair involves filling the crack with a flexible patching compound followed by a sealant. The result is a structurally sound and visibly unattractive repair. I wanted something improve because this is a repair that everyone will run across when they come up to our front door.

Tools & Materials

Quikrete generously sent me a bucket of FastSet Repair Mortar which is used for repairing concrete, masonry and stucco. The mortar is polymer modified, rapid setting and features a "low-sag formula" which makes it ideal for vertical and overhead repairs.

Information technology's important to know that this crevice has not moved or expanded at all for the past vi years. If there was any run a risk of motility, the appropriate product for this repair would be a flexible, polyurethane physical crack sealant.

Temperatures
Fortunately temperatures here in Maryland are still in a higher place 32° F even at night. Otherwise the water (mixed with the dry mortar) would freeze and crusade the repair to crack. If the temperatures are besides low, pros often use accelerant to speed up concrete prepare time and insulating blankets to trap rut. During the hot summer months, pros utilize retarder to slow the set up time.

I don't own whatsoever physical tools. Instead, I used an old drywall knife and a grout bladder. I also grabbed a wire bristle brush and hammer.

Footstep 1: Clean Fissure

I started this repair by cleaning the fissure with my wire brush and removing any pocket-sized, broken pieces. I used a broom to clear away any leftover debris.

Step 2: Mix Repair Mortar

I combined a portion of the 20 lb. bucket with warm water (speed up set time) until information technology was thoroughly mixed and a potent, gel-like consistency.

Footstep 3: Employ Mortar

Before starting, I sprinkled some water over the physical to wet the surface. Using my drywall knife I applied mortar to the crack and skim coated the balance of the face of the physical. Much like painting, it'due south easier to spot a partially repainted wall so I used the corners as transitions.

Step 4: Tool Mortar

I continued tooling the mortar later the initial ready to attain a smooth uniform wait.

As the mortar hardened, I switched to my grout bladder considering I could apply heavy pressure and ameliorate round the corners.

Footstep five: Pulverize Old Concrete and Use on Transitions

I used a hammer to pulverize a few chunks of concrete into a fine pulverization, and I lightly dusted the meridian edge where the repair meets existing concrete. My goal was to further hide the transition from new to old.

Step 6: Allow to Cure

Aside from ensuring the repair doesn't dry out too quickly during the first 24 hours, there are no special procedures to cure FastSet Repair Mortar.

Finished

Even with the warm h2o, the libation temperatures slowed cure fourth dimension. After 24 hours the mortar color was much lighter and it began to blend with the existing concrete. I used the wire brush once more to smooth out a few places along the corner.