Q&A for How to Adhere Concrete to Concrete

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  • Question
    What's the best way to clean off tools after mixing concrete?
    Gerber Ortiz-Vega
    Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
    Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017.
    Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
    Expert Answer
    I personally use water and a wire brush to clean off my tools. I put the excess concrete in a contractor-grade trash bag and then dispose of it. Make sure you're cleaning everything off right away so the concrete doesn't harden on anything.
  • Question
    What is the quickest-curing material (not setting but curing) for filling a small hole before putting epoxy paint over the floor?
    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.
  • Question
    When the cement base is dry under the paving stones, can I use additional concrete to fill the cracks between the pavers?
    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.
  • Question
    I have a cement sunburst that broke into 3 pieces. Is there a way to mend it?
    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 fix my sidewalk without tearing it out or replacing it if it's sloping toward my house?
    Community Answer
    You can't fix this easily. You could either dig out one or more grooves in the sidewalk so that they act as drains and divert water away from your house or build up grooves above the surface so that the water is stopped from entering your house.
  • Question
    How can I reattach the head on a concrete statue?
    Community Answer
    Try using E6000 adhesive. I just used it to glue pieces of a fountain back together. Treat it like concrete, keeping moist and covered for several days to build strength. I dabbed some leftover stain on mine to make it match the fountain coloring as much as possible.
  • Question
    How do I apply cement to a vertical surface without it falling out?
    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
    Trying to reset brick coping pavers to concrete pool shell. What will adhere best..
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Using a cement bonding slurry will greatly improve the adhesion between the paving bricks when you reset them.
  • Question
    Can you store the concrete adhesive/ water mixture after it has been made?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    No, the concrete slurry will start to set as soon as you mix it together and will become unusable after 1 hour. Unfortunately, it can't be stored for later use.
  • Question
    Can concrete steps be repaired if the step edges are crumbling?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can use a concrete mixture to apply it where the steps are crumbling, though they may not last long before they start to crumble again.
  • Question
    What is best thing to use to fill old expansion joints (horizontal and sloping) in a driveway?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Applying a thin layer of bonding slurry before you add new concrete will help with adhesion and fill the joints.
  • Question
    How can I bond new concrete to an old concrete beam of a concrete slab?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Create a bonding slurry, apply it to both beams, then use a new concrete mixture to connect the two slabs.
  • Question
    What would be best to use on a concrete bench to bond it to concrete legs?
    Community Answer
    Pin it together. Drill a hole in the leg and the bench, put in a 4 to 6 inch rebar and use mortar or grout to lock it in.
  • Question
    Can I concrete over existing concrete without rebar?
    Community Answer
    No, you would need support so that it doesn't cave in on the existing concrete. The rebar provides extra support for the new concrete. This will also help it last longer.
  • Question
    Can painted concrete steps pose a risk, when applying concrete over concrete, to attach pavers to the old unit?
    Community Answer
    The concrete won't stick to the paint so if you want to do a good job you should remove the paint first. You can try using a heat gun for this.
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