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Handyman Concrete Step Repair

  
  
  

handyman concreteFixing a damaged concrete step is surprisingly easy for you or your handyman. You probably have some of the necessary tools, so you will only need to buy, rent or borrow a few specialty tools.

You will first need to chip away any loose concrete to get to solid concrete so that the patch will hold. You can use a hand sledge or a 3-pound maul, and a brick chisel. Scrape the area with a wire brush and blow away any dust or residue.

Next, construct a form around the chipped step to hold the patch in place. Use 1-inch thick boards around the step. The width of the board depends upon the height of the step, but 1-inch by 8-inch is a good general dimension.

Attach the boards at a 90-degree angle using duplex nails (double-headed nails). Keep the boards from moving by driving 1-inch x 3-inch wooden stakes into the ground, and nail the form boards to the stakes. Apply a thin film of clean motor oil to the inside of the form boards so the patch doesn't stick to the boards.

Now that the form is in place, you will need to apply a "scrub coat." This is a mixture of liquid bonding agent and sifted pre-mixed sand mix. Dampen the area with a spray bottle and apply the scrub coat. Make sure that the scrub coat is still wet when you actually start filling the patch with the wet sand mix.

Concrete is always thirsty. If you start filling the patch with wet sand mix and you don't first dampen the surrounding concrete, the surrounding concrete will absorb the water from your patch, causing it to fail.

This repair is fairly small, so you will only need a bag or two of sand mix such as Quikrete or Sakrete (each bag costs a few dollars). This stuff is easier to mix than a cake mix, just a little water. Pour the sand mix in a bucket and add water to make a workable consistency. When you can squeeze a handful and it doesn't crumble or drip, you have the right consistency.

Fill the damaged step a little at a time with a pointing trowel (under $10), and pack down the mixture to squeeze out any air bubbles. Continue filling the area until it is slightly higher than the surrounding surface. Use a wood float (or a 1-inch x 4-inch board -- it's cheaper) and tilt it on its edge. Move the wood back and forth to pack down the wet sand mix, and let the whole thing sit for a few minutes. Place an edging tool (under $10) between the form board and patch. Using short strokes, shape the edges of the step. The edging tool forms the small curve on the step.

Let the patch sit about 45 minutes. If there is water still pooled on the surface, it's too wet. Periodically, press down on the patch with your thumb. If you leave only a light thumbprint, grab a magnesium float (under $20) and smooth it out. To texture the patch to match the surrounding concrete, use a stiff-bristled broom and brush the surface.

Wait 30 minutes more, and then remove the form boards. Use the edging tool to shape the vertical corner. You will want to keep the patch wet so that it cures properly. Spray the patch with a garden hose or spray bottle two or three times a day for three days. After that, moisten it twice a day for a week.

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Removing Concrete Advice From A Handyman

  
  
  

breaking up concreteTake it from a handyman: breaking up concrete is tough work. For the most part, with new homeowners they are looking to get rid of the small 3 foot pad at the back door so they can put in a larger pad, or some stone work. Even a small pad is tough and you will be surprised by the amount of debris it creates.

First of all, make sure you work safely. That means eye, ear, and breathing protection (particularly if you will be sawing the pad), as well as heavy gloves.

You can certainly rent a jackhammer, but for most of us a small pad isn’t worth it. That leaves a sledgehammer or a concrete saw for your choices. For a small pad, I would go with the sledgehammer. For this size pad, you can nibble away at the edges breaking up the concrete into manageable sized pieces. You are going to have to repeatedly hit the same spot a few times to get the concrete to crack and break apart (the small pads typically don’t have rebar in them). Also, once you start to break apart pieces, you can use a lever and slightly lift the edge of the pad up and then hit it. In this manner, the pad will break in only one or two strikes.

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