A severe winter like the one we’re “enjoying” this year can be tough on sidewalks, walkways and driveways. Cracks and potholes from repeated freezing and thawing, gouges from snow shovels and discoloration from chemicals all wreak havoc on paved surfaces. You can save big bucks doing some of the simpler repairs yourself.
1. Pop ups or cracks in concrete – Wear safety glasses and work gloves for protection! Using a chisel or wide bladed screwdriver, chip out all the dirt and debris that has lodged into cracks, and vacuum until clean. Mix a good fast-bonding concrete mix with water, wet the hole or crack with water for good adhesion, and trowel in the cement mixture. Remove any excess filler and smooth everything out. Keep the surface slightly moist to speed the curing process. 48 hours of curing is required.
2. Cracks or holes in asphalt – Cracks should be enlarged to allow the patch to cover properly. Clean out the entire residue with a vacuum and patch using one of the commercially available asphalt patching compounds. These can be applied by means of a caulking gun if it’s in a tube form or by a putty knife if purchased in a can. When the crack has been covered completely, smooth out the compound. For holes in the asphalt, clean out all rocks or residue and vacuum. Using a trowel for thin board, fill the hole to about ½” above the surface and use any heavy board to tamp the filler down level with the surface.
3. Broken corners of concrete steps – Find two pieces of board that are large enough to cover the broken area on both sides. Using masking tape, tape these boards to the step making sure that they are level with the step top surface area and overlap completely at the corner. It may be necessary to place some sort of blocking against the boards so that they don’t move during the filler application. Fill the void with mixed concrete patch keeping in mind that the top must be smooth and level with the surface. Keep the surface slightly moist to speed the curing process. 48 hours of curing is required.
4. Broken Concrete Block – If the hole is large, it should be filled with newspaper to within 3/4″ of the surface. Mix your filler and place into the hole with a trowel making sure to smooth it level. If the hole is along the upper or bottom edge you will need to use a piece of board to form a cavity to hold the mixture in place until it has dried. Keep the surface slightly moist to speed the curing process. 48 hours of curing is required.
