Tools and Materials
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
Repair Concrete Walkways and Steps
Remove any damaged or crumbling concrete. Use a small sledgehammer and chisel to undercut the edges of the damaged area as shown here.
Clean the area in and around the damage with a wire brush and broom. Then wash the area with a concrete cleaner and a stream of water.
Use a board as a form by securing it against the side of the area you intend to repair. Place bricks or other heavy objects against the board to hold it in place. The top of the form should be flush with the desired height of the edge. The form will give you a guide for smoothing the patch.
Mix vinyl patching compound as directed by the manufacturer and trowel the compound into the area to be repaired. Tamp the mixture to remove air pockets. If you use patching mortar instead of vinyl patching compound, either mix it with a bonding agent instead of water or coat the edges of the surface to be repaired with a bonding agent.
Smooth the mixture with the trowel, using the top of the form as a guide.
When the patch has set (see manufacturer's instructions for the patch compound you're using), remove the form and smooth or brush the surface of the patch as necessary to match the surrounding concrete.
Keep off the patched area until it's had time to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions.
With your concrete tools out, this is a great time to learn How to Build a Concrete Pad.
Repair Concrete Corners
Remove any loose or damaged concrete from the area to be repaired. Clean the area with a wire brush and broom. Wash the area with a stream of water.
Use two pieces of wood as a form by first securing them to each other to form a corner and then placing them against the corner you intend to repair. Use bricks and wooden braces to hold the form in place. The top of the form should be flush with the desired height of the finished corner. This form will give you a guide for smoothing the patch.
Mix vinyl patching compound as directed by the manufacturer and trowel the compound into the area to be repaired. Tamp the mixture to remove any air pockets.
If you use patching mortar instead of vinyl patching compound, either mix it with a bonding agent instead of water or coat the edges of the surface to be repaired with a bonding agent.
Smooth the mixture with the trowel, using the top of the form as a guide.
When the patch has set (see the manufacturer's instructions), remove the form and smooth or brush the surface of the patch as necessary to match the surrounding concrete.
Keep off the patched area until it's had time to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Repair Concrete Walkways and Paths
Using a sledgehammer, break up the damaged area of the concrete into pieces.
For projects that don't require a lot of concrete, look for smaller, 10-pound bags of concrete mix. They're easier to manage and don't leave you with as much leftover material, which doesn't store well.
Remove the larger pieces of concrete from the area and distribute the smaller pieces of rubble to create a firm bed on which to pour the new slab. Clean the remaining slab edges with a broom.
Mix your concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Extra concrete mix? Check out How to Build Walks and Patios With a Concrete Mold.
Dampen the area to be repaired. Fill the area between the forms with concrete mix. Begin in one corner and work to the middle. Then start in the opposite corner and work to the middle again. Fill until the concrete reaches the tops of the forms.
Using a board wider than the repair area, drag the board along the forms to smooth out the surface of the repair area. This is called screeding. Remove any excess concrete that piles up along the front of the board.
Tap the sides of the forms to settle the concrete.
Smooth the surface of the concrete with a darby, which is a long wooden trowel, or large float. Work in large half circles from one side to the other and stop when water appears on the surface.
After the water has evaporated, smooth the surface with a trowel.
Allow the concrete to set and then smooth or brush it to match the existing slab or walk. Insert a trowel between the concrete and the form and run it along the inside edge of the form.
To accurately match the look of the rest of the slab or walk, you may also need to run a concrete edger along the forms and the new concrete. An edger is a special tool that rounds and shapes the edge of a poured concrete surface.
Use a jointer or concrete groover to create a joint in a concrete surface like the lines in a sidewalk. Add joints and grooves as necessary to reproduce the look of the slab or walk you're repairing.
Keep off the patched area until it's had time to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions.
A slow cure is best for concrete. For this reason, the manufacturer may recommend that you mist the fresh concrete with water and cover it with plastic for at least three or four days.
Finishing Your Project
After you have made repairs and the concrete has cured, you can decorate with plants, lanterns, flowers, and even use concrete paint to add a new decorative style to your home.