I finally figured out why my concrete resurfacing kept flaking off after a job in Red Deer

I did about 6 driveways last summer and every single one started peeling near the edges within 3 months. I tried different brands, different mix ratios, nothing helped. Then I talked to an old-timer at the gravel yard who asked if I was wetting the substrate before applying the overlay. Turns out I was laying it on dry concrete and it was sucking all the moisture out before it could bond. I started misting the surface with a garden sprayer before each batch and the stuff sticks like crazy now. Anyone else run into this or have a different trick for keeping overlays from lifting?

2 comments

2 Comments

tylerlane21d ago

Hold on, is a little flaking at the edges really the end of the world though?

nora5421d ago

Red Deer concrete is famously thirsty, I've seen it suck the moisture right out of a mix in under a minute. @tylerlane flaking at the edges is a big deal because it's just the start. Once the edge lifts, water gets underneath during freeze-thaw cycles and pops the whole overlay off by spring. The misting trick works but you gotta be consistent, don't just wet the surface once then forget it. I also started using a bonding agent on really old or dusty concrete, that extra grip helps a ton. Another thing is timing, if it's hot and windy that surface dries out way faster than you think.