Winter weather is hard on exterior concrete, and de-icing salt is harder still. On this project we restored a 45-by-65-foot pad that had been badly damaged by salt and freeze-thaw cycling.
The repair sequence
- Surface preparation. The damaged surface was blasted to remove loose debris, contaminants, and deteriorated concrete — down to sound material.
- Moisture vapor barrier. An MVB was applied at 15–20 mil to stop moisture from moving through the slab and causing the same failure again.
- Full broadcast. A full aggregate broadcast reinforced the surface and added strength and profile for the layers above.
- Overlay. Our overlay was applied at roughly 30 mil to rebuild a durable, uniform wearing surface.
- Scrape and clean. Once cured, the surface was scraped and cleaned back to a smooth, even finish.
- Seal. A sealer went on last to protect the repair and finish the appearance.
Why we do not just spray an overlay on
Overlays that are simply sprayed over damaged concrete inherit every weakness underneath them. Blasting back to sound material first is slower and more expensive on day one, and it is the reason the repair is still there years later.
If winter left your driveway, pad, or walkway pitted and flaking, it is worth having someone look at it before the next freeze.
About the author
Michael Bierfreund is the owner of Southeast Flooring Solutions, LLC, a licensed and insured flooring contractor based in Chapel Hill, TN. Project details in these articles come from the crews who performed the work.
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