Author Topic: How to repair (new) concrete  (Read 1454 times)

ncornilsen

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How to repair (new) concrete
« on: August 24, 2016, 09:47:13 AM »
I just installed a new concrete patio at my house. I hired a contractor to fill and finish. Control joints, finish etc was PERFECT when they left.

I had taped some painters plastic on the walls to keep the splatter from getting on the house. about an hour after I applied the sealant, it fell off the wall, and landed in the sealant. When I picked it up, it really messed up the sealant. (It's xylene based, so I can fix that easily enough.) I tugged on the plastic to get the rest of that section down. Long story short, a vase fell on the new concrete and dented it, and chipped off a corner at a control joint. It's fairly conspicuous. It had hardened to the point where trying to fix it wasn't happening.

The concrete is dyed.  I can buy more of the dye locally pretty easily, but getting it to match could be a crap shoot.

I'll post some pics this evening.

A few thoughts:
-Leave it alone. Notice it every day. The cumulative effect of increased blood pressure from seeing it gives me a stroke in 5.7 years. $0.00. Test subject note: neighbor didn't notice it until I pointed it out. maybe OK?
-cut the section of concrete out at the control joints. repour. Problem is, new concrete won't match. It never does. Notice it every day. stroke in 5.7 years. ~$400 and a couple weekends. And a stroke.
-Use a clear epoxy, tinted with the dye to fill in. The clear tinted dye will probably blend in fairly well. $80, may last until I sell the house. Will look like absolute crap when it eventually fails. Cost: $100. and still probably a stroke.
-Some other repair compound, tinted? I'm looking for suggestions here.

Thanks
-Nick

Fishindude

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Re: How to repair (new) concrete
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2016, 11:51:03 AM »
I work in concrete daily.
Sorry, but your problem is near impossible to fix without complete removal and replacement of the concrete.

Here is my recommended fix to hopefully keep your blood pressure down.
Carefully scrape and remove all of the "caulk type" joint sealant out of all of the control joints.   
Purchase some new sealant in color that most closely matches your concrete color and re-seal all joints flush with surface of concrete, including the chipped out area you describe.
We use a product called Sonneborne NP-1 which can be purchased in a variety of colors.   I believe Sherwin Williams has an "or equal" product.
Note that you may need to purchase a whole case of sealant when ordering a non stock color, but that's better than high blood pressure.


lthenderson

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Re: How to repair (new) concrete
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2016, 10:52:30 AM »
Agree with Fishindude. An alternative would be to buy a decorative statue to place over the affected area.