How to Patch Up Your Concrete Walk

Is your backyard walkway or front walk starting to crunch and pop when you walk on it? It may be time to patch up that concrete before an entire replacement is necessary. One way to easily extend the life of your walkway is to stay ahead of cracks and expanding holes. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may be able to complete this small maintenance project in just a few hours.

In this article, we share some helpful tips to make your concrete walk right as rain.

How Much Damage Has Your Walk Suffered?

Despite concrete having a longer lifespan than asphalt, it only takes a few years for the wear and tear to begin showing. Common causes of sidewalk damage often include exposure to the weather, shifting of the ground supporting it, and heavy traffic.

When assessing your concrete walk for repairs, look for these signs that a repair or replacement might be in order:

Water Damage

You may think water damage to concrete is ridiculous, but if water pools and sits on it for extended periods, it will seep down into the cracks and weaken it over time.

Pavement Cracks

One of the more visible signs of sidewalk disrepair is cracks. When antifreeze, water, ice, and excess dirt get into these spaces, it slowly destabilizes the affected area of your walk.

Crumbling

If your concrete walk has patches of disintegrated material, you will need to patch that area to prevent further deterioration.

Walkway Slabs Are Raised or Uneven

A common culprit of uneven or lifted sidewalk slabs is due to tree roots nearby pushing them around. This type of repair needs to be made right away to avoid trip and fall hazards.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Concrete Walk?

After assessing the condition of your sidewalk, you may not be sure if repairing it is enough. Should you fix or replace your concrete walk? There are circumstances where one of these options is better:

Sidewalk Repair

Simple repairs should be enough for your walkway under the following circumstances:

• Minor chips and cracks are happening
• The area to patch is significantly smaller than the pad (a few inches or less)
• You only see normal wear and tear issues

Sidewalk Pad Replacement

You will likely need to replace the entire affected pad or walkway if:

• Multiple slabs are completely broken in half, raised, or crumbling away
• Broken areas are larger than a few inches
• The subbase has been destabilized due to shifting and cracking

Patch Your Cement Walk in 4 Steps

If you only need to perform a minor patch, these four steps will make patching your cement walk a cinch:

• Remove the damaged area by cutting out around it
• Remove any debris for a clean area to apply the patching mix
• Fill the cutout area with patching mix
• Brush on the bonding agent and pack on anchoring cement
• Cover with plastic till cured

Another step is to dispose of the broken concrete, and your local trash service may not permit you to put it in your household trash. You can always rent a dumpster from Bin There Dump That to catch the mess. If you need to replace your entire walkway, working with a company like Skid Steer Services to recycle unwanted concrete might be your best option.

Dispose of Your Concrete the Easy Way with Bin There Dump That

If you want to rejuvenate walkways around your home and feel safe when walking on them, patching or completely replacing these sidewalks is your best course of action. Keep this project and the waste it generates manageable with a dumpster rental from Bin There Dump That.

Our company provides full-service dumpster rentals that can’t be matched by third-party brokers. With ergonomic double door access and driveway protection, you can rely on us to help you haul out the broken concrete from your sidewalk project. Often, we can deliver on the same day or within 24 hours! Call our northern Atlanta area office at (770) 932-2838 or contact us online for more information today. Check out our blog for additional tips and tricks to maximize the benefits of your dumpster rental experience!

Remember to use Bin There Dump That for all your dumpster needs.