The surface of painted concrete steps to a porch can crack and become pitted over the winter. The problem is that moisture leaks under the surface of the concrete and expands when it turns to ice. The pressure of the ice expanding underneath the concrete surface causes it to pit and become flaky. You need to resurface the concrete to fill in the cracks and pits before the water can get into them and cause further damage next winter. If your sidewalks are getting cracked and pitted, here is how you can resurface them to close the openings water can get through during the winter and to make them look good again.

Remove Paint

All of the paint on the steps has to be removed before you can apply any resurfacing material to the steps. The paint can interfere with the material bonding to the existing concrete surface. You can use a tool like a wire brush or a grinder the remove all of the paint on the concrete. This process will typically cause a lot of dust and debris to fill the air.

The paint dust and chips can be dangerous to your eyes and lungs. Make sure you are wearing eye protection and a breathing mask before you start to scrape the paint.

Fill Cracks

Any large cracks in the steps should be filled with an epoxy to close and seal them. The epoxy comes in a tube that fits into a caulk gun. You will need to cut the tip off of the tube with a utility knife so you can squeeze the epoxy out of the tube. Insert the tip of the caulk tube into the cracks while pumping the handle on the caulk gun to force the epoxy out of the tube. You should fill each crack until the epoxy is just below the surface of the concrete.

Concrete Patching Material

You should use a concrete patching material to resurface the steps. The concrete material is made from quick drying cement that starts to set within a few minutes. Mix a small amount of concrete patch in a bucket at a time to help ensure the material won't get too hard before you can spread it out over the steps. Pour the patching material onto a section of the steps and spread around with a squeegee or a trowel.  Apply a coat of about a half an inch or so. This is thick enough to fill the pits and little cracks and provide a barrier between the steps and the elements that should last for a few years. The drying time of the cement will vary depending on the brand and type of cement you use, but you should close the steps off for at least a day to let the cement dry and set up.

Concrete repair companies like S&W Concrete can provide more information about this topic.

Share