eHow: How to Layer a Cement Sidewalk

A smooth concrete walkway enhances the overall appearance of a home.

Cement sidewalks can last many years, but the cracks, pits and other signs of wear and tear that form over time can be an eyesore. Removing a damaged sidewalk is laborious and unnecessary if the damage is minor. Layering a new layer of cement over the sidewalk repairs existing damage and makes the whole slab look new.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Power washer
• Scrubbing brush
• Stain remover
• Hose
• Reinforced vinyl patch compound
• Putty knife
• Flat trowel
• Duct tape
• Concrete mix
• Wheelbarrow
• Paddle mixer
• Shovel
• Squeegee
• Medium-bristled push broom

1. • 1
     Clean the old cement using a power washer and scrubbing brush. Pour stain remover over oil stains and scrub it with a stiff brush. Hose off any cleaning solution and remaining debris and wait a few hours for the surface to dry.
   • 2
     Fill in cracks, pits and any chips in the surface with reinforced vinyl patch compound. Use a putty knife to tamp the compound into the holes and fan the material over surrounding cement with a flat trowel.
   • 3
     Cover any expansion joints with strips of duct tape long enough to extend across the width of the sidewalk. Expansion joints are semi-flexible material installed between sections of a slab to allow the cement to shift and expand without forming jagged cracks.
   • 4
     Empty a bag of concrete mix in a large wheelbarrow, adding small amounts of water at a time. Stir it with an electric paddle mixer until it has a spreadable consistency.
   • 5
     Scoop small piles of concrete over the sidewalk, using a shovel. Have a helper spread a 1/4-to-1/2-inch layer of concrete over the sidewalk with a trowel. Push a squeegee across the width of the sidewalk to remove any impressions left by the trowel.
   • 6
     Move a medium-bristled push broom gently over the wet concrete to add subtle texture so the surface will be slip-resistant.
   • 7
     Remove the duct tape covering the expansion joints and wait about two days for the surface to cure before allowing foot traffic.

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