Last November, the experts at Countryside got a call from Clayton.  He had a new exposed aggregate concrete sidewalk poured, and the sealer had turned white (this is common if the sealer is applied when the slab is too wet).  He also had an issue with his front stoop- when the new sidewalk was poured, the contractor set the height wrong and left him with a 5″ rise on the first step and a 7″ rise on the second step- very unsafe!  See the pictures below to get an idea of what we had to work with:

The first step was to build up the lower step 1″ to make 2 6″ rises to meet code, rather than the 5″ and 7″ that is not only unsafe, but not in compliance with building codes.  After that, we applied a colored base coat of TextureTop overlay, and topped that with a splattercoat of TextureTop in a darker, complimentary color.

Then it was time to address the whited-out sealer on the exposed aggregate.  First step is to strip off the existing sealer with xylene solvent.  That step is followed up with a mild acid-wash to remove and residue and prepare the exposed aggregate concrete sidewalk for new sealer.  Then it’s time to let the sidewalk dry thoroughly- this is critical to a good concrete sealer application.

First a coat of high-solid SuperClearCoat is applied to the entire front sidewalk and front stoop.  That is followed up by a topcoat of matte-finish SuperClearCoat to maintain the color enhancement, but eliminate some of the unnatural gloss that some find undesirable.  Take a look at the pictures below and see the transformation!

As you can see, we started with a job that was done improperly, unsafely, and not in compliance with local building codes.  The experts at Countryside Concrete were able to remedy the poor workmanship, fix the safety and aesthetic issues, bring the stoop into compliance, and turn a drab front entryway into a centerpiece of the home!  Whatever issues you have with your existing concrete, give us a call- we’re happy to help!

Filed under: Overlays, Restoration