How to Resurface Concrete Steps

A man works on concrete steps.
  • 8-40 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 100-2,500
What You'll Need
Broom
Chisel
Hammer
2 buckets
Pressure washer
Coarse sand
Cement
Paintbrush
Lumber measured to the length of your stairs
Wooden stakes
Plastic sheet
What You'll Need
Broom
Chisel
Hammer
2 buckets
Pressure washer
Coarse sand
Cement
Paintbrush
Lumber measured to the length of your stairs
Wooden stakes
Plastic sheet

Concrete steps may need to be resurfaced throughout the years. This article will explain how you can resurface your steps quickly and effectively. All you need are the proper tools and you can save yourself some money by doing it yourself.

Remove Remaining Loose Cement

Use the broom to sweep the stairs of any debris or loose cement.ou can remove any remaining loose cement by using a hammer and chisel. You want the concrete steps to be smooth and clean before resurfacing your steps.

Pressure Wash

To get rid of dust, dirt, and grime, use the pressure washer on your steps. The surface has to be completely clean in order to resurface.

Lay Out Your Lumber

You want to layout the lumber next to your steps so that the cement doesn’t pour out over the sides of the stairs. Generally, your overlay should be around 3/4 of an inch, and your lumber would be the same height as your overlay.

Drive the Stakes

To keep your lumber tightly against the stairs, drive your stakes into the ground while they are pressed against your lumber.

Make Your Mixture

To make your overlay mixture, add together one part cement with two parts sand in a bucket. Then add water so that the mixture pours easily. Don’t make the mixture too watery so that the cement stays strong.

Use Cement Paint

In another bucket combine cement and water until it makes a mixture that has the consistency of paint. You can then use a paintbrush to apply the mixture to the stairs so that it helps the overlay bond properly.

Pour your Cement

Before your paint mixture dries, pour your cement over the stairs.

Let it Dry

Let your cement mixture dry until it is slightly hardened. This should take about one hour.

Cover with Plastic

After you have let the cement harden for one hour, you can cover the area with plastic. This plastic should remain in place for about three to four days. Concrete is always better when it dries slowly. This prevents breaks and cracks in the concrete.

Add Another Layer of Cement Paint

After you’ve let the area dry with the plastic over the top for three to four days, you can then remove the plastic and add a second coat of the cement paint, prepared as you did earlier. Allow the paint to dry and you should notice a more even texture to the cement.

Remove the Stakes

You can now remove the lumber and stakes from the stairs. Make sure to wait at least 24 hours before walking on the stairs.

Tips

It’s important to wear your safety equipment at all times. Using only the proper tools ensures safety for you and your property. Use a concrete sealant to help prevent future damage.