Things You'll Need
Protective clothing
Small sledgehammer
Angled chisel
Heavy-duty steel wool
Garden hose
Paintbrush
Concrete bonding agent
Concrete patch product
Spade
Straight trowel
Plastic tarp
Rocks (optional)
Yard stakes (optional)
Spray bottle full of water
Curbs receive a great deal of abuse without thought. When we park on the side of the road, we often use the curb to step into our cars. We sit on curbs, install planters on them, and never think about protecting them from the elements. It's little wonder, then, that a curb is often the first area outside of your home to look aged and become damaged. Mending the damage can go a long way toward making a better first impression.
Step 1
Protect yourself from inhaling concrete dust and particles by covering your nose and mouth with a paper mask. Shield your eyes from debris with a pair of safety goggles. Cover your body as much as possible with clothing, since sharp pieces of concrete may cut bare skin.
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Step 2
Break away broken or jagged pieces of concrete from the edge of the curb, using a small sledgehammer and angled chisel. Scrub the entire surface area of the curb with a piece of heavy-duty steel wool to loosen unstable pieces of concrete so that they fall away.
Step 3
Spray the damaged area of the curb with a garden hose so that all of the debris is rinsed away. Wait two days to allow the concrete to dry thoroughly, inside and out. Use a large, clean paintbrush to apply a moderate coat of concrete bond agent all over the damaged area and just around the outside of it.
Step 4
Prepare the concrete patch product if necessary. Stir the concrete patch with a spade so that the consistency is even. Apply a thin, 3/8-inch-thick layer of the concrete inside and around the damaged area, using a straight trowel.
Step 5
Work the concrete as deeply as necessary into the damaged area with the corners of the trowel. Smooth the concrete as much as possible. Wait 20 to 30 minutes, until the concrete begins to set. Add more concrete to the area, filling the depression so that this part is now even with the rest of the curb.
Step 6
Shape the concrete to match the curb, using the flat side of the trowel. Level and smooth any rough or uneven areas. Hold the trowel lengthwise at a 45-degree angle and scrape away any excess concrete patch. Cover the mended curb with a plastic tarp. Hold the tarp down around the edges with rocks or yard stakes, if necessary.
Step 7
Let the concrete patch dry for five to seven days. Lift the tarp once each day and lightly dampen the patched area with water from a spray bottle. Replace the tarp when you are finished. Check the patch after five days. Remove the tarps once it has hardened.
Tip
Concrete patch is available in dry, ready-to-mix and prepared versions. Save yourself time and effort by choosing the prepared patch in an airtight container.
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