3/14/2019 How to Adhere Concrete to Concrete (with Pictures) - wikiHow

How to Adhere Concrete to Concrete

Author Info

Concrete is usually made of cement, water, gravel, and sand. This combination creates
Explore this Article
a very hard, durable surface. However, cracks and damage can occur. Fixing concrete
takes a number of materials because it does not readily adhere to other concrete. The Patching a Concrete Surface
Pouring a New Slab over an Existing
mixture and formation relies on a chemical reaction that stops once dried. If you need
One
to patch a concrete surface or pour new concrete on top of old concrete, you must Article Summary
invest in a strong bonding agent and a concrete patching mix. If all precautions are Related Articles
taken, you can create a repair that will last a few decades. References

Method
Patching a Concrete Surface
1

1 Wait for a cool, overcast day to do your concrete repairs. This is the best time to adhere the concrete
because it takes longer for the water to dry out, and it has more time to react with the cement.

2 Buy concrete patching material. It is available in a pre-mixed form or by buying the separate ingredients
in bulk. If you haven't adhered concrete to concrete before, it is a good idea to go with the pre-mixed
version, which only requires that you add water.
Buying the raw materials, gravel, Portland cement and sand is considerably cheaper than buying pre-
mixed concrete patching. If you are patching a deep hole, you can use 1-inch (2.54-cm) gravel,
otherwise, use very fine gravel.
Mix the dry materials in a ratio of 3 parts gravel to 2 parts sand to 1.5 parts cement in a bucket. This is
sometimes listed as 3 to 2 to 1. A higher amount of cement will create a stronger material. There will be
more of chemical reaction between the cement and water, which will create more crystals and a harder
structure.

3 Sweep the concrete surface carefully. You must remove all loose stones, or the bonding agent and
cement will not reach the surface of the concrete.

4 Dust the surface thoroughly after you have swept. You can use a blower or a soft brush; wipe away the
dirt that is stuck to the surface.

5 Rinse the concrete. Sprinkle an even amount of water onto the surface with a hose attachment. Stop
adding water before you create standing water on the surface.
This will stop the porous concrete from sucking the moisture out of the bonding agent and concrete
bonding material.

6 Create cement paint. Mix Portland cement, which is available at most hardware stores, with water. Stir the
2 ingredients together until they form the consistency of wet paint.
You can also buy an acrylic bonding agent to use in place of the homemade cement paint. They are
made of resin and can be either added to your patching concrete or applied like the cement paint.
Follow the instructions on the can or bottle very carefully, as many of the products have different
application instructions and drying times.

7 Apply a thin layer of the cement paint to the old, damp concrete with a paint brush. Do this right
before you plan to pour the new concrete patch onto your old concrete surface.

https://www.wikihow.com/Adhere-Concrete-to-Concrete 1/4
3/14/2019 How to Adhere Concrete to Concrete (with Pictures) - wikiHow

8 Add the water to the homemade or pre-mixed concrete patch just before applying. Mix it well. Pour
the patch into holes and cracks or pour a 3/8-inch (1-cm) layer to flat surfaces.

9 Wipe the surface of the concrete with a wooden float. Apply it to the surface with a back and forth
motion until the pieces of gravel have sunk below the surface. The sand and cement should rise to the
surface.

10 Allow water to bead and rise to the surface. It will evaporate on its own. For a smoother finish, wait
until the concrete is hardening and almost plastic in texture, then apply a smooth back and forth motion
with a metal trowel.

11 Cover your patch with plastic sheeting while it dries. This will keep as much water as possible within
the concrete mix and it will bond better.

12 Spray the new concrete with a coat of water every day for 4 to 7 days. This will keep the chemical
reaction going and make the new concrete stronger.

Method
Pouring a New Slab over an Existing One
2

This method works best when you have someone to help you with the mixing and brushing. Do not attempt
large areas until you have practiced and achieved success on smaller learning areas.

1 Mix one part polybond with 4 parts water.

2 Add the mixture to clean dry cement powder.

3 Mix until a slurry like consistency is achieved.

4 Brush this slurry mix onto old concrete slab.

5 Pour new concrete while mixture is still wet.

6 Keep applying slurry mix ahead of new concrete as you go.

7 Finish concrete in your usual manner.

Community Q&A

Question

What is the quickest-curing material (not setting but curing) for filling a small hole before putting epoxy paint
over the floor?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Try Bondo. It feels like putty, sets quickly and sticks to wood and other material. As it is an epoxy itself, it will form a
good base for epoxy paint. Although it's advertised for auto body work, it can be used in construction projects as
well. You can get it at Home Depot.

https://www.wikihow.com/Adhere-Concrete-to-Concrete 2/4
3/14/2019 How to Adhere Concrete to Concrete (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Question

I have a cement sunburst that broke into 3 pieces. Is there a way to mend it?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

It won't form a true bond, but you can use PVA glue and a leveling compound mix. Make sure you soak bonding
edges with water first.

Question

How do I apply cement to a vertical surface without it falling out?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Utilize mesh screening or a wire reinforcement, that will help it to adhere better. Also, don't make your cement
mixture too "soupy," as it will just run down. Don't forget, if you add extra water beyond the manufacturer's
recommendation, you'll lose viscosity and your cement will be weaker.

Question

When the cement base is dry under the paving stones, can I use additional concrete to fill the cracks between
the pavers?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

You can, it won't adhere to anything, though. One usually employs grout for such tasks. Since your pavers are
exposed to the sun, they heat and cool, which makes them act as if they're breathing. Select backfill, sand, or the
cheap stuff the quarry sells (the dust stuff, though it's not dust). These tolerate the heating and cooling better, and
allow the pavers to shift as needed. You can use concrete, no question, it's just not the best choice for long term
durability.

Tips

If possible, shade your new concrete from hot sun. This can leach out the water and make the bond weaker.
To fix hairline cracks in concrete, you do not need to use a cement paint and a concrete patching compound. You
can fill in the cracks with a thick paste of Portland cement and water.
Creating a smooth finish on concrete is difficult. It takes practice to achieve a professional look. For larger jobs,
consider hiring a professional.
If you are trying to repair a step or the corner of a sidewalk or driveway, you should use reinforcing steel bars, or
rebars, to reinforce the new concrete and adhere the 2 materials together. Consult your local hardware store on the
best size of pins for your project.
Always wear clothing that can be damaged when working with wet concrete. The materials and mixing process can
be messy.
The scope of work described above will not provide a long term durable repair. The methods do not follow industry
best practices set forth by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI). For example, concrete is a porous
material that requires mechanical surface preparation, opening the pour structure, enabling adequate surface
bonding and intimate contact between the substrate and repair material. Bonding agents are effective. However, if
guidelines are not strictly followed, they can actually perform as bond breakers.

https://www.wikihow.com/Adhere-Concrete-to-Concrete 3/4
3/14/2019 How to Adhere Concrete to Concrete (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Things You'll Need

Portland cement

Water

Paint brush

Stirring stick

Water hose

Pre-mixed concrete patching compound

Sand

Gravel

Bucket

Metal trowel

Plastic drop cloth

Wood float

Broom

Blower or soft brush

References

1. http://www.askthebuilder.com/B123_Long_Lasting_Concrete_Repair.shtml
2. http://www.askthebuilder.com/123_Concrete_Repairs_101.shtml

https://www.wikihow.com/Adhere-Concrete-to-Concrete 4/4