Driveways suffer from years of weathering and heavy vehicle traffic. Eventually, you would need a concrete driveway restoration creating a new look to the concrete finishing on the driveway.
If your driveway needs an entirely new look, you need a unique finish covering minor surface damage like cracks, imperfections, and discoloration. The overlay creates a durable surface and long-lasting bond with the original concrete that will not chip, crack or peel. Concrete resurfacing can be achieved by stained, stamped, and hand-carved faux finishes like flagstone, cobblestone, ashlar slate, and roman slate for the exquisite look of natural stone.
- Clear the Cracks Out
- Restore the Color to its Former Glory
- Apply New Decorative Overlay
- Apply Sealant
Once you have a concrete driveway resurfacing, you must ensure the floor material is in perfect condition. And when repairs and restoration are needed, you have to be prepared to conduct a quick fix. You would also have to get ready for a professional concrete driveway restoration team and tell the condition of the existing materials.
Driveway Restoration 101: Four Ways to Apply
Now, look closely at the four standard concrete driveway restoration methods.
1. Clear the cracks out
How will you clear the cracks? By making them disappear on the surface with fillers and patching compounds.
The patching compound usually contains silica, cement, and epoxy grout that adheres to spaces within the gaps. That makes a durable and lasting bond between the materials.
2. Restore the Concrete Color
The next is about restoring the coloring used on the driveway floors. Sometimes the best way to fix the concrete outdoors is with recoloring.
This is the method you need when floor materials are still in excellent condition without any signs of breaking or major cracks. A quick and convenient way is to update the colors used on the concrete. It may only be that the pigments on the cement floors washed away, making an old, heavily worn outlook.
3. Apply Decorative Overlay
When you already notice some significant flaws as a growing crack on the surface, you would now have to apply an overlay. Imagine overlays as the confluence of installation of a new slab process and the process of a quick refinishing.
Imagine, maybe you got an old worn-out concrete finished with staining, and there is no other way for you to update the look than to pour a new layer of concrete. However, instead of pouring an entirely new set of slabs, you would only apply a certain amount that would not need to be as thick as the existing slabs.
Overlays would also have a different consistency, making them look like a suitable material for the old concrete driveway. Then, you can apply the finish method you want as the stained concrete or try a new look with stamped concrete.
4. Apply sealant
Last but not least is applying a sealant. Driveway sealant is a material that keeps the concrete surface resistant to any damage and preserves its pleasing look.
The sealant would need reapplication at least once in three years. It is to keep the outdoor floors functioning at their best.
