sidewalk repair?

Question

I want to add a decorative touch to my walkways around my yard.....they are concrete....some of them are cracked ...I saw at Lowes a mold for concrete walkways that you put your concrete in and you can add tint to color it etc,,,,I want to do that but I need to know can I just pour the new concrete on top of the old walkways and will it adhere to that which is down already,,, or do I have to completely remove the old and start fresh?....or is there something I have to do to prepare my old concrete that is already down for the new?......I appreciate any help.....thanks

Answer 1

Ticketor is totally wrong with his advise to you. When you are capping existing concrete with less than 3" you will need a bonding agent like Sensible mentioned. However, the new pour will crack in the identical place as the old. So don't make more cracks. If you can incorp a control cut or decorative groove where it is cracked than do so, the existing concrete control joints (groove lines along a sidewalk evenly spaced) will also need to be cut in the same spots or new cracks will appear.

There are more professional products than lowes that might be more suitable for you. You should find them in your yellow pages. The products are overlay treatments that are 3/16" thick with polymeres and modifiers strong enough for vehicle traffic and will expand/contract without cracking. Many types of finishes other than broom and many colors to choose from.

These product would cost you about 2.00/ft squ. complete. An example of finishes you can see on my page. myspace.com/finishtouchenterprises

good luck in your repair

Answer 2

Remove any pieces of chipped concrete and clean the whole surface. You really need to prep the old concrete with a bonding agent. They make a liquid that you paint onto the old stuff and it will allow the new to adhere to the old. You will probably be using cement rather than concrete since you are "coating the old. Cement has no rocks in it. If you use concrete you will need to build a form since the thickness will be at least a 1/2". I recoated my front steps with about a 1/4" of cement.

Answer 3

you can do a couple of things, crack all the existing and form around that and lay your new deco atop the old and the cracks will hold the new 2" pour to the old; or you can tie wire mesh to the existing and pour over with your deco choice.
If its not secure, the new will soon crack away from the old.