Tips To Help You Repair And Resurface Your Concrete Floor
The concrete on your property can take quite a beating with regular use, temperature changes, and moisture changes. So when a concrete floor in your basement or your garage becomes pitted, cracked, or filled with holes you can repair and resurface it yourself or hire a professional contractor to keep up its condition. Here are some tips to help you more successfully repair and level your home's concrete floor.
Be Ready to Protect Yourself and Surrounding Surfaces
Preparation of your concrete repair job can be just as important as the actual work you do to the floor. It is a good idea to protect the surrounding surfaces of your worksite with a plastic covering to prevent the splattering of concrete products. Small specks of concrete splattered onto the surrounding walls will mar their surface and be difficult to remove them. Apply a plastic covering from the base of the wall and upwards approximately two feet high to protect the walls.
Also, protect yourself from the concrete mixture that can cause burns to your bare skin. Concrete mixtures contain acidic materials that will cause burns, so wear work gloves, eye protection, and long pants and a shirt with long sleeves. Rubber work boots will also help protect your feet from exposure.
Prepare the Area
Clean the concrete floor with a concrete cleaner before you apply any new concrete to remove residues that will interfere with the new concrete's adhesion. Then, fully rinse off the cleaner after using it to remove residues so you aren't facing the same problem of improper adhesion.
Also, remove any small pieces and fragments of concrete from cracks and the edges of the damage. You can use a pressure washer or broom to complete this.
Use the Right Equipment
The right equipment in your repair will help you do the job right. A heavy-duty concrete squeegee and a concrete trowel are essential to smooth the new layer of concrete repair over the site. However, if you are lacking the right equipment, it is better you hire a professional who has all the right equipment than to substitute it with inferior tools.
Follow Up With Proper Cure Time
No job is completed properly if you don't allow for the finishing touches to be completed. And in concrete repair work, this includes allowing for your patch and resurfacing materials to cure completely. If your concrete does not cure fully it can crack and lift, resulting in your having to repair it and start all over again.
Also, keep in mind if the concrete is too cold it will take longer to cure and will need to be protected from traffic a bit longer. Usually, when the concrete is 50 degrees F and below, the cure time is extended. Reach out to a concrete contracting company, such as Curb Design for help.