How to Repair or Patch Concrete Steps

Are your concrete steps cracked or broken? Are they crumbling away? Do you despair every time you look at them and wonder how to fix them? Well, worry no more. Read on to learn how to repair those crumbling concrete steps.

Concrete is a unique substance. A mixture of sand and gravel, it is normally one of the strongest building materials. But over time, with exposure to rain and snow, it can deteriorate and start to crumble. Repairing it is important. If neglected, the concrete will continue to break apart until nothing is left but pieces.

To begin your repair project, make a trip to your friendly home improvement or hardware store. Tell the clerk you need vinyl concrete patcher to repair cracked or broken steps. This patcher works well if you do your preparation work correctly.

Once home, carefully clean the steps, removing any loose pieces of concrete. Sweep the steps, removing the dust and left over debris from the crumbled concrete. One word of caution: the patcher will not stick well to painted surfaces. If any of the area has been painted, rough it up with a wire brush. Rinse the area well with water.

Mix your concrete patcher. It simply mixes with water. You should try to have a fairly firm working consistency, a little thicker than pancake mix. Do not mix more than you can apply in about twenty to thirty minutes as it will harden and become unusable.

Keep a water hose or sprayer handy and wet the first area you need to repair. Just dampen, do not leave water standing on the surface. Start at the top and work your way down. Using a trowel, apply a thin layer at first, pressing it firmly into the cracks and crevices. Once you have the area covered, go back over it with a second layer and smooth it level with the surrounding surface.

On the fronts of the steps it may be necessary to apply the patching compound in small layers, allowing each layer to partially dry before adding the next.

Drying time is needed before you can walk on the repaired steps. Depending on the temperature, it may take a day or two for the concrete patcher to set up or cure. Block the steps off with furniture to keep pets off or with ribbon to let people know the steps are not to be used. Remember, time and patience are required in repairing your concrete steps. They may not look as good as new, but they should be pretty close.