The majority of us prefer concrete on our patios; it has become a focal point for many of us; call it simple beauty. Its extraordinary endurance and low cost make it the preferable choice for our patio over the wooden deck.
You recently installed a concrete patio, but your neighbor’s old patio concrete appears to be newer than yours.
This is owing to the contractor’s inefficiency; nonetheless, concrete is prone to wear out due to foot traffic and water erosion.
Nobody wants a rough, uneven concrete patio as it is ugly, yet you can resurface it cheaply and easily. So, wondering how to smooth rough concrete patio?
There are numerous methods for smoothing concrete; however, we will focus on two simple methods below.
Contents
How to Smooth Rough Concrete Patio
1. Resurfacing the concrete patio
First, make sure you have all of your resurfacing tools ready. You will require the following items:
- Paddle mixer bit
- Trowel
- Broom and brush
- Protective gear
When you’re ready, follow these simple steps.
Step 1
You must thoroughly clean the concrete patio to achieve a decent result. So, first, sweep the dirt off of it, then put on your safety suit. Then, using an eco-friendly concrete cleaner, thoroughly scrape the surface.
It would be best to choose an eco-friendly concrete cleaner since non-eco-friendly concrete cleaners contain harsh chemicals that will damage your concrete.
Pour the cleaner onto the concrete surface and let it sit for a few minutes before thoroughly scrubbing it in. Make certain to follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Then, with the help of your garden hose, rinse off with clean water.
Step 2
You can make your own or buy a ready-made resurfacer; the important thing is that it be of high quality to minimize cracking and shrinkage.
Now, take a paddle mixer and attach a drill to it.
A 7 to 1 ratio of resurfacer to water in a large bucket will yield a decent effect.
Mix it with the drill until you have a paint-like viscosity that is free of loops.
However, if the combination is too thick or watery, you can modify the ratios to guarantee a spreadable consistency.
Step 3
You want to rewet your concrete patio. However, before you do so, you need to patch any cracks in the concrete surface.
Spread the resurfacer on the cracks with a trowel and let it harden.
Fill the patio with water and sweep away any standing water with a broom.
Then, pour the mixture onto the surface and use any concrete smoother accessory to even out the material and ensure it fills all concavity of the concrete.
Pour the mixture into small sections on your patio for a better result.
This will make it simpler to distribute. If you’re spreading it using a trowel, make sure it’s at a little angle. Place it so that the raised point is away from the direction.
Keep in mind that the surface should constantly be wet; if required, rewet it. Allow the entire patio to be smoothed. Then let it dry.
Also read: What to put in bottom of fire pit on concrete patio
Step 4
Most resurfacers will become hard after two hours, but others may take a little longer depending on the sort of resurfacer you use.
The surface will be a little hard but still sensitive, so allow it overnight to dry thoroughly, and you’ll have a brand-new concrete patio ready to use the next day.
Also read: Which outdoor vacuum is good for patios
2. Try a concrete grinder
A rough concrete patio can be leveled without using resurfacing. The concrete grinder uses a revolving disc to smooth up concrete, and an angle grinder will do the job admirably.
Put on safety equipment and make sure there are no flammable materials on the patio. Clean your patio, but we will not use water; instead, we will use a vacuum cleaner or a broom. Cleaning with water will create a horrible mess during grinding.
Also read: Best karcher pressure washer for patio
Check that everything on the grinder is correctly fastened, including the disc and the handling guard. The handle guard is intended to protect you from injury. To avoid mishaps caused by flying debris, make sure no one is in the area where you are grinding.
Plugin the grinder and smooth out all the imperfections by holding the handle guard flat to the ground and using a small circular motion to flatten the bumpy areas. To avoid moss growth, clean with calcium sulfate, rinse, and dry.
Also read: outdoor misting system for your patio
FAQs about concrete patio
How I make my cracked concrete patio look better
For you to have a better-looking concrete patio, consider using flexible caulk-based products.
All you need is a caulk gun and a utility knife to perfectly apply the product.
Use Quikrete concrete repair since its matte gray texture perfectly blends your concrete surroundings.
Can a concrete patio be resurfaced?
If your patio is slightly damaged, you should restore it by resurfacing it instead of installing a new patio.
A cement-based overlay will upgrade your patio’s appearance.
But if your patio has major damages, consider using other techniques to restore it.
Is painting a concrete patio a good idea?
Of course, painting your concrete patio is a good idea, especially when it has seen better days.
Adding some color to your patio concrete will give it a welcoming new look while offering a protective coating.
Give it fresh paint and see the difference.
How do you fix pitted concrete?
When your patio concrete starts pitting, filling the pits with cement is not a permanent solution; instead, use bonding concrete repair material to fill in the divots.
After reading this post, you won’t need to ask anyone how to smooth rough concrete patio.
There are numerous methods for smoothing a rough concrete patio, but the ones mentioned above are the most effective.
Please choose the option that works best for you and follow the procedures outlined above to have your concrete patio restored to its former beauty. When resurfacing or using a grinder, you should always take safety precautions.
Hopefully, this post will assist you in doing it yourself like a professional. If there are any other approaches you’d like to hear about, please let us know in the comments section below.
