How to Resurface Concrete Patio: 7 Easy Steps

Think of your patio as the icing on top of the cake. The cake, being your home, of course. It ties the whole look together. Now here is where resurfacing concrete patios comes into the picture. What, then, can you do to give it a top to bottom overhaul?

We’ve spoken to local flooring experts and Indianapolis concrete contractors to create a shortlist of How to Resurface Concrete Patio in 7 Easy Steps. 

Step by Step Guide in Resurfacing Patios

• Clean It. Nothing Less Than This

You’ll be surprised at how such a simple and practical to-do can lengthen the life of your about-to-be reconstructed patio, both in structure and appearance. It’s also the first step to ensuring that you ready the existing deck before resurfacing it. 

So put in some effort into sweeping, brushing, scrubbing, or using a pressure washer hose to get rid of dirt, debris, and spills. 

Tip:

Pre-wetting the concrete will allow the resurfacing material to settle better. For detailed instructions regarding this, head on to number two.

• Level Out the Surface

Raised or sunken portions can weaken the entire deck over time. Cracks and dents usually start in these unstable regions and spread across the rest of the patio. The solution? We’ve got 2.

For existing patios:

Fill hollow portions with a sealer, concrete pastes, or sealers. As for raised portions, grind them down with a concrete grinder.

For a newly resurfaced patio:

Be thorough with pouring and smoothening the mix over the entire surface.

Tip:

Talk to your supplier and ask about the ideal type of concrete sealer mix for your patio. 

• Map It Out and Operate in Sections 

Concrete and concrete sealers dry quickly. This is inevitable. Hence, anticipate it by planning which areas you’ll apply the material on first. If you choose to resurface instead of merely evening out or patching up parts of your existing patio, take note of the mix’s adhesion level. Somewhere around 3000 PSI will be great. 

Tip:

Use tape on control joints and edges to shield said areas from the mix. 

1. Preparation Before Application

Be sure that #3 is in full effect before mixing the concrete product. Remember that immediately following the mixing is the mix’s application. You’ll have to move fast so as not to let it set and harden before you complete the work. 

Tip:

Set a timer for the preparation. Most products are good to go in less than half an hour. 

• The Must-Have Tool: Trowel

Here’s a callback to #2. Smoothen the newly applied and settled concrete mix. Then, add one of the best tools that can assist you with this next task: the ever-reliable “trowel.” Do this to fill holes and eliminate raised sections by running them over these target areas. 

Tip: 

We recommend that you utilize the trowel’s edge to make the job easier. 

• Second It Up, But With A Slightly Different Consistency

To be specific, a mix that has a bit more water than the first batch you poured out. And yes, the second coating comes after the trowel-step. The trowel step is a way for you to let the mid-section of the concrete set well and without kinks. Ergo, with a lower risk of weakening later on. 

Tip:

After the second coating, use the trowel once again to equalize this final layer. By the way, the “wet” texture or consistency will allow the concrete to have a pristine “finished” appearance.

• Test the Mix With Water

Finally, you’ve reached the testing phase. What you are to test here is the consistency of the second coating. Pour a small amount of water (palm-sized) and gently spread it out with a soft-bristled broom. If the mix forms a kind of concrete-sphere, it’s your cue that it needs more water.

Tip:

Get into details here—holes, unevenness, and pores. Load them up properly and smoothen surfaces out.