Lena Rivera
If your painted cement driveway is looking a little worse for wear, you might be considering resurfacing. This is a great way to renew the look of your driveway without having to rip up and replace it entirely. Before you begin, you'll need to clean the driveway and repair any cracks or damage with a patching compound. You can then apply a concrete resurfacer, which will give your driveway a brand new look and feel, as well as protecting it from future damage and discolouration. You can make your own resurfacer or purchase a product such as Quikrete's Top and Bond. Be sure to work in sections and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results.
How do I resurface a painted cement driveway?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Quotes range from $8,000 to $18,000 for removing old concrete and replacing it with new concrete or asphalt. Resurfacing is a cheaper alternative. |
| Durability | Resurfacing rarely lasts long, and cracks will reflect through the coating system. In South Florida, a good traffic-rated deck coating system will give 5 to 7 years of service life. A properly installed traffic coating system costs half the price of installing new concrete. |
| Maintenance | Resurfacing can extend the lifespan of structurally sound concrete. |
| Functionality | Resurfacing does not fix major cracks or sinking. |
| Aesthetics | Resurfacing can give a driveway a new look and feel, and protect it from the elements. |
| Time | Resurfacing takes most of the day, but the driveway will be walkable after six hours and ready for driving after 24-48 hours. |
| Process | The process involves cleaning, patching, and spreading the resurfacer. Before resurfacing, the concrete surface must be cleaned of any paint, sealers, dirt, oil, or flaking concrete. The concrete must be structurally sound, dry, and completely clean. |
| Materials | Quickrete, Stone Mason, and Quikrete's Top and Bond are some products that can be used for resurfacing. |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare the surface by cleaning and repairing
Before applying a concrete resurfacer, it is important to prepare the old concrete surface so that the renewing layer can properly adhere to it. Start by eliminating dirt, oil, flaking concrete, and any other contaminants with a pressure washer. If you don't own a pressure washer, you can rent one from your local home centre.
Once the driveway is clean, inspect it for large cracks or deeply spalled areas. Any damage found should be repaired with a patching compound. This step is important, as it helps extend the lifespan of the resurfacer. After making repairs, hose down the driveway to the point of saturation, then use a broom to remove standing water. This cools down the slab and prevents the mixing water from being drawn out of the wet concrete resurfacer.
If your driveway is structurally sound but has minor cracks, you can use a product like Quikrete's Top and Bond to repair them before resurfacing. However, note that resurfacing won't fix major cracks or sinking, and those issues may reflect through any coating system installed. If your driveway has significant issues, it may be more prudent to remove and replace the entire driveway or the worst slab sections.
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Mix the resurfacer
Mixing the resurfacer is a crucial step in the driveway resurfacing process. It is important to get the right consistency and to work quickly as the resurfacer will start to set within 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the product and the temperature.
First, prepare your equipment and recruit a helper—you will need an extra pair of hands. Then, add three and a half quarts of water to a five-gallon bucket. You can adjust the amount of water based on the temperature—in hotter weather, use cold water to extend the working time. While you operate the mixing paddle within the bucket, ask your helper to slowly pour in the resurfacer. You can use a product such as QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer, or make your own mix using sand, Portland cement, and a mortar additive.
Continue mixing for at least five minutes, or until the mix has reached a lump-free, syrup-like consistency. If the mix seems too thick, add a bit more water; if it is too thin, add a bit more resurfacer. You are aiming for a consistency that is spreadable but will not fill the expansion joints of the driveway.
Once you have the right consistency, you are ready to start applying the resurfacer to your driveway.
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Apply the resurfacer
Before applying the resurfacer, ensure that the old concrete surface is clean and free of any dirt, oil, flaking concrete, and sealers or paint. You can use a pressure washer for this step. Once the driveway is clean, inspect it for large cracks or damaged areas and repair them with a patching compound. After applying the patching compound, hose down the driveway and use a broom to remove standing water. This will cool down the slab and prevent the mixing water from being drawn out of the wet concrete resurfacer.
Now, you can begin preparing the resurfacer mixture. In a five-gallon bucket, add three and a half quarts of water. While you operate the mixing paddle within the bucket, slowly pour in the resurfacer. Continue mixing for at least five minutes until the mixture reaches a lump-free, syrup-like consistency. If the mix seems too thick, adjust by adding a bit more water. Conversely, if it appears too thin, add a bit more resurfacer.
For a large driveway, it is advisable to work in sections, mixing and applying the resurfacer to a modestly-sized area at a time, approximately 144 square feet or less. Once the mixture is ready, pour it from the bucket onto the driveway in strips about one foot wide. Use a long-handled squeegee to spread the resurfacer back and forth across the driveway, effectively scrubbing it into the concrete.
After allowing the new surface to set for about five minutes, you can create a non-slip finish by using a wide-head concrete broom. Run the broom across the work area without stopping, ensuring that each broom stroke is in the same direction to achieve a uniform appearance.
If you are working in warm weather, the resurfacer will harden more quickly. To extend the window of workability, keep the bag of resurfacer in the shade, and use cold mixing water.
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Finishing touches
Once you have cleaned the driveway, inspected it for cracks and holes, and repaired any damage with a patching compound, it's time to move on to the finishing touches.
Firstly, hose down the driveway to the point of saturation, then use a broom to remove standing water. Doing so cools down the slab and prevents the mixing water from being drawn out of the wet concrete resurfacer.
Now, with your equipment ready, add three and a half quarts of water to a five-gallon bucket. Ask your helper to slowly pour in the resurfacer while you operate the mixing paddle within the bucket. Continue mixing for at least five minutes, or until the mix has reached a lump-free, syrup-like consistency. If the mix seems too thick, add a bit more water; if it's too thin, add more resurfacer.
If you're resurfacing a large driveway, it's a good idea to work in sections, mixing and applying the resurfacer to one modestly-sized area at a time (no larger than 144 square feet). Once it's ready, pour the resurfacer from the mixing bucket onto the driveway in strips about a foot wide. Then, with a long-handled squeegee, spread the material back and forth across the driveway, effectively scrubbing the resurfacer into the concrete.
After allowing the new surface to set for about five minutes, you can give it a non-slip finish with a wide-head concrete broom. For a uniform appearance, run the broom across the work area without stopping, and be sure to make each broom stroke in the same direction.
If you want to add a professional touch, finish the edges of the project with a paintbrush or edging tool while the surface is still wet.
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Allow time to cure
Allowing your resurfaced driveway to cure is a critical step in ensuring its longevity and durability. Here are some detailed instructions and considerations for this process:
The curing process for concrete typically takes around 28 days, or four weeks, to reach maximum strength. During this time, the concrete hardens and gains resistance to wear and tear. It's important to differentiate between drying and curing, as they are separate processes. Drying helps to reduce moisture content, while curing increases concrete strength.
For the first seven days, it is recommended to keep all vehicles off the driveway. This includes bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, and even pets. After seven days, you can start driving on the driveway, but it's best to avoid parking heavy vehicles like trucks or RVs until the full 28 days have passed.
To enhance the curing process, consider watering the driveway several times a day or using the "`flood curing`" method. This involves keeping the concrete submerged or saturated in water for an extended period. Maintaining a moderate temperature of around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for curing. If the temperature is too high, it can negatively impact the curing process.
If you live in an area with cold winters, be mindful of the temperature when curing concrete. In freezing conditions, use concrete blankets to lock in heat and prevent water in the concrete from freezing. Curing compounds and the correct water-to-mix ratio can also help speed up curing.
If you are resurfacing your driveway with a product like QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer, the curing process may vary slightly. This product is designed to cure on its own in mild weather, requiring no additional steps. However, in hotter weather, it will harden more quickly, so it's important to work efficiently and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
By following these guidelines and allowing sufficient time for curing, you can ensure that your resurfaced painted cement driveway will be strong, durable, and long-lasting.
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Frequently asked questions
To resurface a painted cement driveway, you will need to first remove the paint and any sealers, dirt, oil, or flaking concrete with a pressure washer. Then, inspect the driveway for large cracks or damaged areas and repair them with a patching compound. Hose down the driveway and use a broom to remove standing water. Next, mix the concrete resurfacer with water in a bucket and apply it to the driveway in sections. Spread the resurfacer evenly with a squeegee or trowel and use a concrete broom to create a non-slip finish. Allow the resurfacer to cure and set before using the driveway.
There are several products available for resurfacing a cement driveway, such as QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer, Stone Mason Concrete Resurfacer, and Quickrete's Top and Bond. You can also make your own concrete resurfacer by mixing sand, Portland cement, and a mortar additive.
Resurfacing a cement driveway typically takes most of the day, but you should be able to walk on it after about six hours and drive on it after 24-48 hours. The concrete resurfacer itself usually remains workable for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the temperature and humidity.
A resurfaced cement driveway can last for up to 10 years, depending on the quality of the work and the climate conditions. In areas with high traffic and extreme weather, the resurfacing may not last as long, and cracks may start to show through.
