Concrete Driveway Resurfacing with Decorative Overlays

Cracked concrete is everywhere. For the enterprising contractor, every damaged driveway is a business opportunity. With the right driveway coating techniques, you can transform ugly concrete and find a lucrative niche in your local market. In some areas, you may be the only one offering comprehensive driveway repair services.

How and Why Concrete Surface Damage Occurs

There are a million ways concrete can deteriorate. The type and extent of surface damage will determine if and how you can successfully resurface it. Here are just a few general ways:

  • General Age and Wear: All building materials wear down over time. Concrete is one of the longest lasting materials, but years of foot traffic and exposure will eventually cause the surface to wear down.
  • Environmental Wear: The freeze-thaw cycle is a concrete killer in most northern climates. As the moisture within the concrete freezes and thaws, it puts pressure on the concrete that can eventually cause pop-outs and spalling. Areas with a lot of rain can also experience wear. If drainage is poor, this can also lead to cracking and heaving, creating significant surface damage.
  • Accidents and Damage: Any number of things can cause damage. Abrasion caused by dragging heavy items, dropping a metal object, or driving an overweight truck on the slab can all cause cracking, marks, and chipping. These issues can dramatically impact the surface and reduce curb appeal.
  • Installation Issues: Bad luck or bad practices can lead to defective concrete. Poor mix design, rain, finishing with water, and just bad finishing can all result in discoloration, pop-outs, and other defects that compromise the concrete surface.

Is Driveway Resurfacing the Right Solution?

Know how to pick your battles. As a general rule of thumb, if the existing concrete is structurally sound, it can be overlaid. When resurfacing a concrete driveway, inspect it carefully for weak spots and cracks.

More severe issues, like the following, may warrant tear out and replacement:

  • Heaving or settling of the driveway slab
  • Excessive moisture transmission through the concrete
  • Excessive surface contamination that can’t be remedied

Always check the documentation for your chosen overlay for limitations before refinishing a concrete driveway.

Concrete Resurfacing Products for Driveways

Concrete overlays come in a variety of types, each designed for specific applications. Decorative overlays tend to be thinner, with microtoppings and spray mixes being the thinnest, while stampable overlays can range up to half an inch thick. On the other hand, structural overlays, such as self-leveling or polishable overlays, are much thicker and provide a stronger base for certain applications.

Important Note: Avoid using paint on a concrete driveway. While it might seem like an easy solution, paint doesn’t bond well with concrete, leading to peeling, flaking, and constant maintenance. For a lasting finish, always use products specifically designed for concrete resurfacing.

Brickform has two great resurfacing options for driveways:

Cem-Coat Plus: A versatile coating that refreshes and enhances surfaces with consistent color. Ideal for providing a decorative, durable finish for lightly worn areas.

SM Pro: A  sprayable cementitious overlay that covers imperfections with ease. Creates the look of brick, stone, tile or other unique textured finishes.

In some cases a driveway may not need a full resurface to get it looking great again. If the concrete’s in good condition, but just looks dingy, dated or boring, consider these simple restoration options:

  • Bring stamped concrete back to life with Antique-It and a fresh coat of Gem-Seal
  • Correct surface discoloration or upgrade existing concrete with Refresh
  • Clean the driveway well and reseal it with Tinta’ Seal

Pro Tip: For larger projects requiring multiple batches, mix all prepared material together to ensure color consistency across the surface.

Surface Preparation for Decorative Overlays

Surface preparation is the first and most important step when resurfacing a concrete driveway. It’s all about getting rid of anything that might prevent the overlay from sticking and making sure the surface has the right texture—or profile—for a solid bond.

Start by cleaning the surface thoroughly to remove dirt, oils, old coatings, or anything else that might get in the way. A great product for this is Brickform Neutra Clean, which makes it easy to break down tough grime and leave your concrete spotless and ready for the next step.

Once the surface is clean, it’s time to focus on the texture, also called the surface profile. This refers to how rough or smooth the concrete is, and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) has set standards called CSP (Concrete Surface Profile) levels to help with this. For most microtoppings or thinner overlays, you’ll only need a light profile—CSP 1 or 2, which is pretty smooth.

To achieve that, Brickform E-Etch is a great option. It’s an eco-friendly etching agent that lightly roughens the surface without the hassle of heavy equipment. E-Etch makes it simple to get the perfect texture so the overlay adheres properly.

Designing With Decorative Overlays

Cracked concrete can be a blessing in disguise. For many homeowners, this is when they can be convinced to upgrade their curb appeal. Answering calls for simple crack repair is an excellent opportunity to upsell into a decorative overlay.

Pro Tip: Always create a jobsite sample or mock-up to confirm results before applying an overlay to the entire surface.

When a homeowner comes to you with cracked concrete, use the cracks and existing damage to guide your design. You could simply overlay the concrete and call it a day, but cracks could reappear. Use a stencil or tape to create a stone or brick pattern that hides the cracks, even if they come back. Implement stamped concrete techniques or add light texture to the surface for a more premium finish.

For the contractor, resurfacing means faster turnaround, less labor, and potentially higher margins. Homeowners save money while still getting quality decorative concrete without having their property torn up, ultimately enhancing their property’s visual appeal and structural integrity.

See More