DIY Concrete Resurfacing and Concrete Finishing Tools

By Dave Ray

Are you thinking about adding on a new patio to your home for those back-yard barbeques? How about running a sidewalk or path around the side of your home? Having the proper concrete finishing tools for the job should certainly be considered before you begin. Weather you are a concrete newbie or a seasoned handy-man here are the hard facts about DIY concrete resurfacing projects.

Probably the biggest factor in deciding if you should do-it-yourself or outsource to a professional crew is the size of the job. A new driveway for example would be quite a task for even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfer! Especially if you must first tear out the old driveway and if there is rebar (steel) in the old driveway the difficulty level and expense just got much higher. The reason you should outsource this type of job is because the concrete should all be poured at once if not separated by expansion joint material. Also, it will take the efforts of a full crew and many concrete hand tools as well as other equipment to remove the old materials and get the new concrete in place before it sets up. As they say on the job-site "wet concrete doesn't wait on anyone! "

On the other hand, smaller concrete projects and DIY concrete resurfacing can be accomplished with just a little planning and effort. Also you don't have to break the bank with a complete set of tools. A float and a trowel are a couple of specialty tools you need for the finishing. Concrete projects like patios and sidewalks need to be properly finished. For example, just before the concrete dries a light sweeping with a broom to give some anti slipping texture should be done. Another option would be DIY concrete resurfacing kit for the trendy new decorative concrete styles. Keep in mind that for larger patio projects many concrete finishing tools are available for rental.
So when planning a DIY concrete resurfacing project or adding a new patio and sidewalk addition around the house here are the basic concrete finishing tools needed for the job and there uses:


The Jointer or Groover: The purpose of this tool is to control the location of the cracks that "will" occur in the concrete.
The Edger: The edger produces a radius along the "edge" of the concrete so it is safer and more resistant to chipping.
The Float: Floating should be done after edging and jointing to work the concrete into place and push the rough aggregate into the mix to leave a smoother finish.
The Trowel: The trowel should be the last concrete hand tool to be used besides brooming. Most concrete will require more than one troweling. Also the angle of the trowel should be higher each time you go over the surface to produce a hard finish.
The Broom: This can be difficult. Broom too soon and it will leave an unsightly finish and you have to trowel again. Broom too late and you cannot get the anti-slip finish desired.

Now the list of concrete finishing tools above is just going to give you a basic understanding of the DIY concrete resurfacing and finishing. Please do as much research as possible before you order or mix the concrete because there is a lot more to this task yet to learn and this stuff sets up really quick on a hot day. Although, on cooler days you have much more time to work your material as long as the temperature doesn't drop below freezing. There are a lot of good information sources available such as books online to learn more before you start.

Also keep in mind that DIY concrete resurfacing and decorative concrete applications are quite a different process so research these as well before you begin.

So before you begin to tackle a concrete project yourself be sure to do your homework and properly assess the tools and labor required. That is probably the most important aspect of any job. Research!

DIY Concrete Resurfacing Secrets and other information to assist in your research on decorative concrete overlays and other concrete finishing tool techniques in much more details.

I am Dave Ray, a concrete contractor that have used the information above in my own concrete finishing jobs. I also have a Website that I'm working on that goes into more detail of some of the concrete finishing tools and their uses. The site is online but still being re-designed and constantly updated but available now at http//:myconcretetools.com

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knkhomeimprovements helps with free advice for any DIY home improvement project. Our expert has been in the profession for over 30 years and has completed many concrete projects. Contact us at knkhomeimprovements.com