If you are like many homeowners, you probably feel comfortable performing some basic home maintenance tasks. Finding holes in your concrete driveway however, may cause you to pause on go about repairing it. This is understandable because this type of job probably falls outside the realm of the normal repair jobs you do. Fortunately, anyone with average do-it-yourself skills can handle filling holes in a concrete driveway if he follows the right method. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Fix large holes by first undercutting them. For small holes, go straight to Step 4. Undercut the hole by using a hammer and chisel to chip away concrete at the bottom of the hole so that the bottom of the hole is wider than the top. Undercut the hole to a minimum depth of 1 inch. This step is necessary so that the new concrete will bond with the old concrete.
2. Clean out the hole of any loose debris and dust by using a wire brush first, and then a turkey baster to blow out the dust. Finally, flush it out with water from a garden hose.
3. Fill the bottom of large holes with finely crushed gravel up to within 1 inch of the top. Smaller holes do not need any gravel.
4. Mix the latex cement according to the directions from the manufacturer. This usually involves pouring the contents of one of the cans into the other to form a mix with the consistency of paste.
5. Apply the latex cement mix in the holes in 1/4-inch layers at a time. Use a trowel to smooth the top of each layer and allow it to firm up and dry a little before adding each successive layer.
6. Continue this process until the level of the latex cement is the same as that of the surrounding driveway. Smooth and finish the top layer to match the driveway. Allow it to dry completely (check the manufacturer's recommendations), and your job is complete.
Tags: latex cement, bottom hole, concrete driveway, large holes, Undercut hole
