Many structures, like measures often are made from concrete, making them long-lasting and highly durable. Under all circumstances, concrete measures continue for decades, however forces of weather and insistent usage can take a toll on their outside, resulting in chips and cracks. Refacing, popularly known as resurfacing, concrete measures smooths their top layer, prolonging their life and making them look fresh. Resurfacing products are offered at most home-improvement shops and made to be used with minimal additional tools. The resurfacing material hardens quickly and can be hand-formed over existing concrete with no sagging.
Mix bleach with water in a proportion of 1/2 quart of bleach per 1 gallon of water. Use a scrub brush to apply the mixture in a circular motion over the concrete measures’ surface, including into cracks.
Wash the bleach-water mixture from the measures with a power pack that is capable of generating 3,500 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure. Make slow, even sweeps 6 to 8 inches above the measures’ surface using the power washer.
Insert weatherstripping into the measures’ expansion joints by firmly pressing down the strips with your fingers the entire length of every joint. The weatherstripping will help in maintaining the joints’ look and keep concrete resurfacer from spilling into the joints. Expansion joints are gaps between adjacent parts of the concrete; typically they’re 1/2 inch wide and one inch deep.
Mix 1 part water to 7 parts concrete resurfacer at a 5-gallon bucket by means of a power drill and paddle mixer until the mixture reaches a lump-free, pourable consistency. Concrete resurfacer is just a premixture of cement, sand, polymer and additives.
Fill cracks and pits in the measures’ concrete using the concrete resurfacer-water mix. Use a trowel to pass across the full imperfections until the resurfacer mix is level with the present concrete. Allow the resurfacer mix to dry up to five hours.
Expand an even, 1/4-inch thick layer of the resurfacer-water mixture across the measures’ entire surface by employing a long-handled squeegee. Make elongated, smooth strokes with the squeegee, and use the resurfacer mix to cover each one of the measures’ exposed areas — top, front and sides. Shape rounded portions, like on the measures’ front, with the trowel by following the first form. Allow the resurfacer mix to dry for six hours.
Sweep a large, nylon-bristled broom over the measures, marginally inserting its bristles in the measures’ still-wet resurfacer and creating an entire stroke across the top of every step from 1 end to the other end without stopping. Wait 20 minutes after you complete sweeping using the broom, then get rid of the weatherstripping.