Saturday, August 24, 2013

How to Refinish a Patio

A backyard patio can be a relaxing retreat. It is good for entertaining and family time. Over time, however, concrete patios can become cracked and unpleasant to use. Refinishing a patio can give you back your place for retreat. The steps are simple and the supplies are minimal, although a considerable amount of drying time will stretch the project out for days. With a little work and patience you can make your patio like new.

Instructions

    1

    Remove all furniture from the surface of the patio. Clean the patio by sweeping with a sturdy broom. Wearing safety goggles, power wash the surface and allow to air dry.

    2

    Protect the grass and surrounding area with plastic sheeting. Cover everything in the adjacent areas that will not be refinished and hold the sheeting in place with tape or landscaping tacks.

    3

    Repair any cracks in the patio using concrete patching, following the label directions. The repair compound usually requires adding a specific amount of water per package. Apply with a metal trowel. Try to make sure that the patch is level with the original surface.

    4

    Cover the patched areas with plastic sheeting and secure in place. Allow to dry completely which can take up to 4 days.

    5

    Remove the plastic sheeting when dry and use the grinder on an electric sander to smooth the patched areas.

    6

    Remove debris from patio surface using a sturdy broom.

    7

    Apply epoxy to the surface of the patio using a paint roller with an extended handle. Epoxy is usually applied like paint and takes a similar amount of time to dry, but follow the label directions for specific guidelines.

    8

    Apply concrete sealant using a paint roller with an extended handle. Follow the label directions for the sealant. Allow the sealant to dry for at least 24 hours before allowing any foot traffic.

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