Tips For Resurfacing

A Cracked Concrete Driveway

Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Tips and Tricks
By: Epoxy Dallas
This image shows the driveway of a house.

Is your concrete driveway the victim of misuse, aging, or common deformities like cracks, weathering, or discoloration? Well, it’s very common as concrete driveways are prone to these forms of damage as they are constantly exposed to harsh UV rays, and fertilizers and have heavy vehicles parked on them daily. This leads to stress in the structural integrity of the slab as well as the finished surface, resulting in the damage that you see on your driveways today. We understand that these damages can leave you wanting to replace your concrete, but that process can take weeks and cost you thousands of dollars in the process. So today, we are going to be going over a few tips and tricks on how you can bring your driveway back to life with concrete resurfacing! Down below, you will find some of the tricks pros use to resurface concrete driveways!

Make Sure The Concrete Is Clean
This image shows a man power spraying a garage floor in preparation for epoxy painting.

Before you even start to think about mixing or applying your resurfacing agent, you need to make sure that your concrete is absolutely clean. The most efficient way to clean your concrete is with a high-output pressure washer with at least 3500 PSI, almost like you are getting a home ready for paint. The driveway can also have oils and grease coating their surface so it is always a good measure to apply an oil and grease remover before pressure washing to promote a strong bonding surface.

Applying The Resurfacer
This image shows a man resurfacing a cement floor.
When it comes to applying the resurfacer, it is best to start with a damp concrete slab. This will make sure that your resurfacing agent dries along with the concrete. The best way to apply a resurfacer is by mixing the material in a five-gallon bucket; which you can purchase at the local home improvement store, and pouring it out on the surface one square at a time with a squeegee. For the smaller corner sections, use a trowel to spread out the material evenly as a squeegee can be too large for these areas. Just make sure to have proper knee protection when troweling!
Have Tools On Hand
This image shows a man resurfacing a cement floor.
After you mix the resurfacer, it becomes a time-sensitive material and will usually “go off” within 45 minutes to an hour after mixing depending on the materials that you use. To make sure that the process is as streamlined as possible, make sure to have all the tools you need outside with you before you start. We know that there are dozens of different tools that can be used in concrete work, making having the proper tools on hand confusing and expensive if you don’t know what to look for. So down below, we have outlined a few of the most common tools that the pros use to resurface concrete driveways:
  • Safety Equipment
  • Magnesium Floats
  • Trowels
  • Squeegees
  • Brooms For Finishing
  • Concrete Edgers
Allow It To Cure
This image shows the driveway of a house.

One of the most common mistakes that are made with DIY resurfacers is the installer not allowing the material to properly cure before using the driveway. Depending on the weather and the thickness of the material you have laid down, a good rule of thumb is to allow the material to cure for at least 8 hours before walking on it and 24 hours before any vehicle drives on it. By waiting for the resurfacer to properly cure, your finished product will be much stronger and resistant to anything life can throw your way.

Well, now that you have some of the knowledge the pros have, its time to start on your resurfacing project! Remember, resurfacing is only a temporary solution that will need to be reevaluated after a couple of years. Well no matter what you decide to do with your driveway, we wish you the best of luck on all of your home renovations to come!