DIY Landscaping: Steps on How to Repair Concrete Garden Kerbing

Concrete kerbing offers a cost-effective, decorative and functional landscaping option for effectively defining garden beds and tree surrounds in your home. Concrete kerbs are durable and can last for years; however, some factors, such as impact from mowing equipment or large tree branches during a storm can cause the concrete to wear and crack. Lack of proper maintenance can also cause the concrete curbs to lose their visual appeal. In this case, carrying out repairs can help restore the appearance and function of the concrete kerbs. Here are some steps that you can take.

Prepare the concrete surface

The first step is to clean the concrete surface in need of repairs. Use a sledgehammer and a chisel to get rid of the chipped and cracked pieces of concrete. Cracked and chipped concrete parts can be an eyesore after the repairs. Water can also seep into the concrete through the cracks and holes and compromise the structural integrity of the concrete kerbs.

Once you've gotten rid of the chipped concrete, rinse the kerb with a garden hose and leave it to dry. Cleaning gets rid of paint, oil, glue, and other products that can reduce the ability of the fresh concrete to bond to the surface.

Apply a bonding agent

Normally, fresh wet concrete does not bond well to existing dry concrete. Instead, it begins to chip within a short time, and you will be forced to undertake repairs again. To avoid this, you should apply a liquid bond adhesive to the existing concrete before patching the area with fresh concrete. Concrete bonding agents can be found in local stores that sell construction materials and products. Apply the bond adhesive to the kerb and leave it to dry until it's tacky.

Patch up the kerb

Preparing a concrete mix requires some level of expertise; therefore, you should go for the readymade concrete mix. Follow the instructions on the packaging for preparing the patching mixture and apply this on the surface of the kerb. If you need to apply several layers of concrete, use the bond adhesive and leave it to dry before applying another layer of the patching mixture.

Clean the surface

Once you have repaired the concrete kerb, get rid of any excess materials and splatters before the concrete dries. Cover the repaired area for a few days and leave it to dry. You can use a plastic tarp or any other material that will protect the concrete from exposure to water.

Repairing cracked and chipped concrete kerbs can be an easy DIY project. However, if you are unable to undertake the repairs or special techniques such as staining are required, you can hire a professional concrete contractor to carry out the kerb repairs.