How to Resurface Sidewalks

Remove all loose concrete pieces from the sidewalk with a broom. Use a hammer and chisel to break off loose edges. If you prefer, use a "0" tip on the nozzle of a power washer to blast away loose concrete. Power washers are available for rental at most hardware stores.

Wash the sidewalk with a mixture of a few drops of dish detergent in a gallon of water. Remove all oily stains by scrubbing them with the detergent mixture. If necessary, use a stronger concentration of detergent. Rinse the sidewalk with your garden hose, and allow the sidewalk to air dry.

Position 1-by-3 inch furring strips along the outside edge of the sidewalk to serve as concrete forms. Adjust the top of the furring strip so that it is level with where you want the additional concrete. Hold the furring strips in place with stakes driven into the ground beside them. Adjust the furring strips to provide a level surface, but do make one side slightly lower than the other to allow for drainage from the sidewalk.

Mix the concrete by putting two parts sand and one part Portland cement together in a mixing container. Add three parts aggregate if you like. Add enough water to make the mixture the consistency of pancake batter. Stir well.

Remove a small portion of the concrete from the mixing container. Thin it to the consistency of paint by adding more water and stirring. You now have thinner and thicker mixtures of concrete.

Pour the paint-like concrete over the sidewalk. Use an old paintbrush to spread the concrete over the entire surface. This helps to bond the concrete mixture to the old concrete.

Pour the thicker concrete over the sidewalk before the paint-like layer dries. Use a trowel to work the concrete to the sides of the sidewalk.

Lay an old 2-by-4 inch board across the sidewalk. Set it on top of the furring strips. Work it back and forth as a screed to further level the concrete on the sidewalk.

Use an old broom to add texture to the new sidewalk surface. If you prefer, you can leave the surface smooth and skip this step.

Cover the entire sidewalk with plastic sheeting. Use stones to anchor the sheeting off to the side of the sidewalk. Allow the resurfaced sidewalk to cure for several days before removing the sheeting. The amount of time depends on temperature and humidity.