Coating for Exterior Concrete

deleted my comment.

I should have read the question more thuroughly before I suggested an epoxy coating...which is not what you want.

Silicate mineral paint should be what you are looking for.

I would think a 'sluury' or 'grout' coat would not adhere well over time. With epoxy finishes you don't need to use the 'pebbles'. Many factory floors are coated with epoxy with just sand used as a traction aid.

I think a slurry would be too thin and would crack with the freeze' thaw problem. However they do have some cement with, i can't remember, which makes it pliable and might work. I'm afraid the epoxy is the only way I know of to go. good luck

You can make a mortar mix, heavy on the mortar, light on the sand. Apply a bonding agent to the existing concrete. Make sure the existing concrete is damp before using the bonding agent. Then apply your mortar mix, then cover with straw or plastic, depending if its flat or vertical....Keep damp for a few days, at least three. The longer you keep it damp, the tougher it will be....In the end, you will have a concrete coating that is very similar to the original product....Make sure you use a good bonding agent (should look like milk) you can get it at Enco, or another large concrete supply company...hope this helps....thanks

Here is a link to Euclid Chemical for a number of concrete repair and admixture products. I have successfully used some of their bonding agents and cold weather additives in the past with very good success. They have been doing this for a long time and their products are widely used in the construction industry.

http://www.euclidchemical.com/product_catalog.asp?top=288

The use of a concrete slurry will not provide a lasting solution. The most effective and affordable way to repair old, damaged concrete is to use MG-KRETE. This is a two-component high early strength, non-shrinking repair mortar. It will aggressively bond to existing concrete creating a surface coating that's 4x harder than regular concrete. MG-KRETE dries to 2610 psi in about 45 minutes, 24 hours to 5149 psi and in 28 days is 11,197 psi. It also resists oil, gasoline, salt, UV Radiation and water. EVC Global Distribution Customer Service Southern US, Authorized Distributor for IMCO Technologies, Inc.

in what weather conditions temperatures can mg krete be applied

There are no temp restrictions. It can be applied to in sub zero temps and in any heat. The use of a Retarder or Accelerator is all that's needed. An Accelerator is needed in colder temps (2 or 3 oz per bag). In higher temps, a Retarder can slow the curing to allow more time to work. Regardless, thei w/i one hour the psi is 2610, 24 hours around 6000 psi, and 28 days 11,190 psi.

can this product be used as a skim coat were flaking and cracking are present on a concrete slab or drive

vinyl patch or thin patch or look up "quikcrete" on the web

Chips and cracks are basically caused by the shinkage of the concrete . I recommend you to take a look to the American Concrete Institute publication named" Causes,evaluation and repair of cracks in concrete structures" ACI 224.1 R-07. It`s a pretty good paper I used years ago when I got a similar problem.

Whatever you apply, scabble the surface first, removing all loose, flaky and weakened concrete and leaving a surface into which your repair can key.

I would be inclined to use a bonding agent (usually a PVA based material - ordinary PVA wood glue will work).

Next mix a mortar with some diluted PVA glue (rubber latex also works) instead of water and apply over your steps. Aim for a minimum of 1/2" thick. Too thin and it tends to crack. Keep it damp for as long as possible - preferably a week.

After it has dried, you could coat it with epoxy which will prevent freeze/thaw cracking.

An alternative can be to soak in sodium silicate. This reacts with the free lime from the setting cement and the resultant calcium silicate strengthens the surface and reduces porosity. I have no direct experience with this method and am not sure how well it will withstand freeze/thaw.

where are you from?

I sell epoxi resin

my email is mmoscati@iol.it

best regards

Michele Moscati

Where are you from?

write me directly to mmoscati@iol.it

best regards

michele moscati