Home Garden

How to Repair Concrete Pavement With Epoxy Grout

Epoxy grout is a grouting material made from epoxy resins and filler, generally sand. The resulting compound is hard and durable, strong enough to patch concrete without weakening the surface as a whole. Compared to cementitious grout, epoxy grout is fast-curing, ready in 24 hours when cement-based grout can take weeks to cure. Epoxy grout also doesn't shrink as it dries, lowering patching time by removing the need to approach the damaged area a second time to fill out shrunken patches. The one drawback to an epoxy grout, however, is its rigidity. Once it's in place, it doesn't move, meaning in a surface that moves often, cracks will result.

Things You'll Need

  • Push broom
  • Wire brush
  • Concrete cleanser/degreaser
  • Scrub brush
  • Hose
  • Cold chisel
  • Hammer
  • Epoxy gel adhesive
  • Paintbrush
  • Two-component epoxy
  • Bucket
  • Electric drill
  • Paddle bit attachment
  • Grout filler
  • Steel trowel
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Remove loose debris from the pavement, using a push broom and a wire brush to clear out any cracks or holes in the area. Wash the pavement after debris removal with a concrete cleanser/degreaser and a scrub brush to remove any embedded dirt. Rinse off the surface with a hose, clearing the cleanser away with the clean water.

    • 2

      Remove any loose concrete from the area. Use a chisel and hammer to cut away concrete shards from cracks or flaked concrete areas. Level the sides and bottom of any cracks with the chisel as well to create internal surfaces that aid in repair. Make the sides of the cracks slightly vertical, flaring outward toward the bottom, and make the bottom as smooth as possible without large changes in depth. Clear the debris created, using the wire brush.

    • 3

      Apply a coat of epoxy gel adhesive with a paintbrush to the damaged area where you intend to place the grout. The adhesive works as a bonding agent between the concrete and the grout. Allow the adhesive to dry for about an hour to a tacky state where it's sticky without appearing wet.

    • 4

      Mix the two-part epoxy components of the epoxy grout in a bucket, following the ratio for the epoxy components provided by the epoxy manufacturer. Use an electric drill with a paddle bit attachment to mix the epoxy, stirring the components until you have a clear liquid without any streaking from the individual components remaining. Add the grout filler to the epoxy, usually sand, again following the grout manufacturer's instructions as to the sand amount. Mix the sand in thoroughly until you have a smooth consistency.

    • 5

      Use a steel trowel to fill in the damaged areas with the epoxy grout. Push the grout firmly into the cracks and holes in the pavement, slightly overflowing the damage. Scrape along the top of the grout to level out the material with the surrounding concrete. Wait 24 hours for the grout to cure hard enough for you to use the pavement.