DIY Concrete Overlay

Dig out a trench around the concrete that goes down as deep as the thickness of the material. Make the trench 2 inches wide.

Build a frame around the concrete to fit in the trench. Use 2-inch-thick boards that are 1 to 2 inches wider than the concrete thickness. Usually, 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 boards are fine. You might need to dig the trench deeper so that only a 1-to-2-inch section of the wood is above the concrete surface. Use a drill to connect the boards together into a frame with 3-inch screws.

Mix up a batch of concrete paint in a 5-gallon bucket. The paint consists of cement mix and water. Add water until the consistency is similar to paint.

Mix up a batch of overlay material. You can make your own using one part cement to 2-1/2 parts coarse sand, or use a mix. If you purchase an overlay mix, follow the directions precisely. Mix the overlay in a wheelbarrow. For large areas, have several wheelbarrow or large buckets for mixing, so that you have plenty to get started. Get someone to help you mix more as you spread on the cement.

Brush the concrete surface with the cement paint and quickly start pouring on the overlay material. Some of the runnier overlays dry quickly, meaning that you have to work fast. However the runny overlays also are self-leveling, so the only thing you have to do is mix and pour.

Smooth out the thicker overlay material with a trowel. Once it is somewhat smooth, place a board across the wood frame and drag it to level the surface.

Let the overlay dry until the surface is no longer damp. If you are not going to stamp the concrete, spray it with water at this point and cover it with plastic to seal in the moisture. If you are going to stamp it, wait until the surface is somewhat dry. You want the surface to the point where you can press a finger in the cement and the indentation does not fill up with water. It isn't a bad idea to have a test batch in a separate plastic container so you do not have to press your finger into the actual overlay.

Place a row of concrete stamps down once the surface is the right consistency. Step on the stamps with your weight to press them in.

Set up a second row of stamps, and walk on them to push them into the cement. Remove the first row to start the third. Continue until you have stamped the entire surface.

Remove all the stamps and spray the surface with water. Cover it with plastic to let it cure. Lift the plastic and water the surface once a day for at least a week. The concrete will cure harder if it dries slowly.