Are you looking for spalling concrete repair methods?
Then you have come to the right place, in this post I will share with you 3 different spalling concrete repair methods that you could use in order to turn your unsightly driveway into something you can be proud of.
Spalling Concrete Repair Method 1 – Sandblasting
LOL!
Sorry about that, but on a serious note. You can actually sand blast the surface of the concrete taking away as much as ¾ of an inch. But in most cases when it comes to spalling concrete then this will not be the depth needed, it will only be necessary to take off the surface itself.
If you go with this spalling concrete repair method you can actually create a very nice looking exposed aggregate finish and if you take care of it properly by keeping it clean and sealed for protection it could last you for years to come.
Spalling Concrete Repair Method 2 – Grinding or Polishing
With this spalling concrete repair method you would actually have someone come in with a large walk behind grinder and grind the surface right off which will leave a smooth surface. They could actually go so far as to polish it for you which would create and even smoother surface and even do some decorative cuts and create something that will truly look amazing.
As I mention though I would not personally go with this method but I have seen it done before and it looks really good. The reason I would not do it personally is because when it comes to a driveway, smooth is not the best option, just my opinion though.
Spalling Concrete Repair Method 3 – Concrete Overlay
With this spalling concrete repair method you would actually pour a thin topping right on top of your existing driveway.
Now some people may be a little leery of only pouring a topping because of the concern they may have with strength but the truth is, you do not pour just any regular concrete. There is special concrete overlay and resurfacing products that are designed specifically for this application.
The best part about the concrete repair method is in most cases it is something that the average person can do with the help of a friend or two.
I really like the idea of polishing the concrete, especially for our back patio. The concrete there has started flaking after having a really heavy patio set dragged around for years. We’ve gotten rid of the furniture, but the damage remains. I think it would look really fantastic to refinish the concrete out there.
Yes Veronica polishing does look really nice if it is done right. An issue that you run into that I don’t think I mentioned here is how slippery it could get. But there are additives that you can add to your sealer that will help with that though, like Seal-Krete for example.
For more severe issues, would it be best to have a professional come and do it? I know that for smaller things, I could do that myself. I wouldn’t want to attempt something larger and have it turn out wrong.
Absolutely get a professional to do it if you don’t feel comfortable. I think that it’s better to pay a little extra up front and have it done right than end up paying miter in the end because you couldn’t do it properly.
I didn’t realize that sandblasting could be used to repair concrete. I imagine it would be good to consult with a professional before doing this. I imagine it is important to know what kind of treatment is needed after you do this.
Hey Scott, thanks for checking out this post. And yes sand blasting works well to repair spalling concrete and looks good if you know what you’re doing. It is important though to make sure that you seal it religiously, I recommend 2 times per year. Consulting a professional is always the best thing to do and if you don’t what you’re doing hire a professional, it’s what they do, you’ll thank yourself later for it.
I really appreciate these tips for concrete repair. Very useful article!
Can this be done over a very damaged exposed aggregate driveway? We have quite a few cancerous places where the pebbles are continuously coming off.
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks for the info on grinding off spalling. I’m considering this option followed by sealing with a concrete densifier Radonseal and Ion Bond Armor. I just want to be sure that grinding will smooth over the roughness and not gouge it. The concrete was poured last October and suffered freeze damage that resulted in spalling with holes the size of dimes and no more than 1/8″ thick. I’m trying to avoid epoxy overlay because it only involves a 350 square foot section of a 1500 sq ft driveway and the epoxied section will look different. It’s hard to know what’s the right thing to do. Thanks for your advice.
If it is ground properly then it will not gouge it but I would not recommend just grinding a small section of your driveway, and grinding the whole 1500 sq ft can get a little pricey. It is hard to recommend exactly what to do without seeing it but a concrete overlay might be and option or else depending on the test you might consider removing and replacing a section.