Often asked: How To Finish Concrete Driveway?

What is the best way to finish concrete?

Here are the steps for finishing a concrete slab:

1. Spread the concrete. Use a square shovel or a come-along tool to push and pull the wet concrete into place.
2. Screed the concrete.
3. Float the surface.
4. Edge the slab.
5. Groove in joints.
6. Trowel the surface.

How can I make my concrete driveway look better?

There are several ways to make your driveway more appealing, possibly becoming the envy of your neighborhood.

1. Pressure Wash.
2. Repair any broken pavers or bricks, fill any cracks.
3. Add a border.
4. Staining concrete driveways.
5. Upgrade your driveway.
6. Improve your landscaping.
7. Lighting.
8. Decorative Mailbox.

Can you skim coat a concrete driveway?

If the chips in your driveway formed over time, skim coating and sealing the surface is a simple cosmetic solution. Skim coating weak concrete is only a temporary fix. Another option is to lay a thicker overlay and slow-dry the new surface. To slow-dry, cover the driveway with moist, breathable material.

When should I start finishing my concrete?

When all traces of the water are gone and the concrete starts to harden, you can resume finishing activities. Test by pressing your gloved thumb onto the surface near the perimeter. The concrete is ready when pressing hard only leaves a 1/4-in.

Should you wet down new concrete?

QUESTION: I’ve been told that new concrete should be kept moist for at least three days while curing. ANSWER: Keeping concrete moist helps the curing process. Concrete hardens as a result of a chemical reaction, called hydration, between cement and water, not because it dries.

Can I resurface my concrete driveway?

Resurfacing involves concrete driveway repair, whereby the entire thing doesn’t need to come up. Instead, contractors can come in and address widespread damage by pouring a new layer of concrete over your existing driveway after removing the top layer. The result is a smooth surface that’s damage-free and intact.

Can I paint my concrete driveway?

Driveway paint is very thick and the first coat should be thin enough to fill the rough concrete surface. Begin by painting the edges (‘cutting in’) and details of the driveway using a paint brush. Use a roller to apply paint evenly over the rest of the driveway. Leave the paint to cure for at least 16 hours.

Can you pour new concrete over old cracked concrete?

There are situations when pouring new concrete isn’t the most suitable option. For instance, surfaces with larger cracks, heaving or settling conditions, or where height cannot be raised, replacement is a better solution. However, in most cases, you can pour a new layer of concrete onto the existing one.

What is the smoothest concrete?

What is the smoothest cement? QUIKRETE® Fiber-Reinforced Concrete, because of its high strength and smooth surface finish, is the best choice for the cast projects that follow. In addition QUIKRETE® Sand Mix and QUIKWALL™ Surface Bonding Cement are flexible enough to be used in a variety of cast projects.

What tool do you use to smooth concrete?

Screeds are long, straight, stiff tubing or boards used to smooth and roughly level wet concrete shortly after it is poured. Screeds are available in different sizes and can even be project-specific, such as those used for building concrete bridges.

How do you make concrete shiny?

A glossy sealer creates a shiny surface, and an acrylic wax adds an additional protective coat. Polyurethane and epoxy sealers resist abrasion, stains and heavy traffic particularly well, but water-based acrylic sealers are less expensive and easier to apply.

Can cracked concrete driveway be repaired?

A Driveway with cracked concrete should be replaced if due to widespread, deep cracks, settlement or sunken concrete. If concrete has cosmetic cracks, frost heaves, scaling or even potholes, it can be successfully repaired with FlexSet, PolyFlexDS or Concrete Welder in cartridges.