How to Repair a Cement Walkway & Steps

Chisel away the corners of the cracks in the existing concrete carefully, going down about half of the depth. Create a new uniform spacing along the crack that is approximately twice the width of the original crack.

Brush away any remaining debris using a wire brush. Completely saturate the crack with water but make sure there are no standing puddles. This will prepare the existing cement for the introduction of new compound and prevent the concrete adjacent to the crack from absorbing the water in your mixture, which may lead to a faulty bond.

Create a concrete mixture in your 1-gallon bucket that is thinner in composition than what the directions ask for. Brush a thin layer of this inside of the now-saturated cement before it dries out. This thin layer serves as a buffer between the existing cement and the patching compound, allowing the compound to create a stronger bond.

Fill the remaining crack with the vinyl reinforced patching compound making sure that there are no air pockets or spaces. Use a trowel to smooth out the surface of the newly filled crack to make it level with the surface of the walkway or steps.

Cover the crack with a layer of plastic and let set for one to two days in order to dry out and fully adhere. Coat the top of the crack with cement sealant once the compound has dried, and let this dry for one day before stepping on it. If there is a chance that your sealant may get wet in that time (from rain, a sprinkler, etc.) cover it loosely with a plastic tarp until it has completely dried.