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We recently poured some sidewalks at a convinience store (like 7 eleven) but we messed up and the quality is not good, I’d like to rsurface them, and since our client has expressed his intent in the future projects to raise the sidewalks about 3/4″ I’d like to get this time to refinish the slabs and raise the level.
¿Any suggestions? Need advice on what kind of produts might do the trick
Thanks
Jaime
Replies
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What climate are you in and what are the specific "quality issues" you have with the present installation?
Eric
*Eric: We are in southern California, and the slabs were not floated enough, they are rough and some are just plain ugly to see.Jamie
*Jamie, When you say that you did not "float them well enogh" I assume that you did not trowel the surface prior to brooming? I do a lot of commerical work and after concrete is rodded-off it is "bull floated", worked with a magnessium hand trowel, edged, hit with a finishing trowel (fresno), broomed and re-edged. Adding 3/4" of concrete to a sidewalk would present a bonding problem between the existing slab and the new layer. I have been on jobs where an epoxy coating was applied with sand or stone embeded. One company is Stonhard that can trowel on a new finish (but it would be cheaper to replace sidewalk). You could make a colored logo at their front door. If you are intent on raising then use a good bonding agent and high strength grout mixed by the sack. Proper surface preparation of the existing concrete is required. Since you do not have freeze/thaw cycles your biggest concern is thermal cracking when the two layers of concrete want to move at different speeds. But, for longevity it is always better to replace than to try a fix.If it was me I would break out the poor workmanship and replace on my dime. Poor workmanship will be remembered long after any "fix" is installed. Replacing will sell this and gain new work.
*Mike: I agree completely, but I can't replace the sidewalk because is part of the foundation, we poured the foundation, the inside slab and the exterior sidewalks at the same time (we call it a foundation slab. This system has proved Us very economical in time and money and since we have 7 weeks to finish a store this is a big advantage.Some how I messed up at finishing the exterior in some areas, and I'm looking to refinished them, I also agree that the biggest problem is the bonding, and perhaps we should stick with some refinishing product.Hope you have some ideas.Jaime
*Jaime, how about grinding the surface smooth?blue
*Jaime,What about sandblasting the surface to expose the aggregate, broom in a concrete dye that works with the store's color scheme and sealing the whole works?Could look really sharp if done right.Eric
*Jamie,How about using some Spanish tile pavers attached with thin-set adhesive? (Check on their coefficient of friction to make sure it meets code though before using.)
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We recently poured some sidewalks at a convinience store (like 7 eleven) but we messed up and the quality is not good, I'd like to rsurface them, and since our client has expressed his intent in the future projects to raise the sidewalks about 3/4" I'd like to get this time to refinish the slabs and raise the level.
¿Any suggestions? Need advice on what kind of produts might do the trick
Thanks
Jaime