Repairing a Pitted Sidewalk Section

Small and Shallow Pitting

• 1

  Clean the area with a wire brush, dislodging any loose concrete and dirt particles.

• 2

  Rinse the area with a garden hose or use an air pump to blow all debris out of the hole.

• 3

  Prepare the latex cement according to manufacturer directions. This often involves mixing liquid latex into latex cement, which are generally packaged together, to form a heavy paste.

• 4

  Apply about 1/4 inch of latex concrete into the pit, smooth it with a trowel and allow it to partially dry before applying the next layer.

• 5

  Apply a 1/4 inch of latex concrete at a time until the patch reaches the same level as the concrete surrounding it, then smooth the area with a trowel.

Large and Deep Pitting

• 6

  Undercut the sides of the pit or hole using a hammer and chisel so that the area is at least an inch deep. Making the patched area larger at the bottom than at the top will help to hold the new concrete.

• 7

  Clean the area with a wire brush and rinse it with water or pressurized air to remove all debris.

• 8

  Brush a concrete adhesive like acrylic resin into the undercut pit to help hold the new concrete. Let this material dry until it becomes tacky before applying concrete. If a concrete adhesive will not be used, thoroughly moisten the patch area.

• 9

  Mix or obtain a gravel cement mix and fill the pitted area. The mixture for a gravel cement calls for three parts gravel, two parts sand and one part Portland cement. Tamp the concrete mix into the undercut area, filling the entire pit thoroughly.

• 10

  Smooth the patch surface with a trowel or float once the mixture begins to set. After about 2 hours, cover the area with plastic sheeting and keep this protective material in place for about five days. In the meantime, wet the concrete daily to help it cure correctly.