My handyman isn't much of a concrete person but he attempted to do a path for
me. He used forms and hand mixed the sakrete fast drying concrete.
Unfortunately he wasn't great at pitching it and now there are puddles. So to
fix it, he mixed some sand with the gravel and drilled the concrete rough,
then topped it. It's a different ugly color now and I'm not sure that it's
even going to hold? We have harsh winters here. Is there any solution to
fixing this?

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...l-1111630-.htm

On Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 9:14:06 PM UTC-5, NYArtist wrote:
My handyman isn't much of a concrete person but he attempted to do a path for
me. He used forms and hand mixed the sakrete fast drying concrete.
Unfortunately he wasn't great at pitching it and now there are puddles. So to
fix it, he mixed some sand with the gravel and drilled the concrete rough,
then topped it. It's a different ugly color now and I'm not sure that it's
even going to hold? We have harsh winters here. Is there any solution to
fixing this?

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...l-1111630-.htm

You might be able to stain both the old and new concrete and come up with a more or less uniform coloring.

In roups.com,
NYArtist m typed:
My handyman isn't much of a concrete person but he attempted to do a
path for me. He used forms and hand mixed the sakrete fast drying
concrete. Unfortunately he wasn't great at pitching it and now there
are puddles. So to fix it, he mixed some sand with the gravel and
drilled the concrete rough, then topped it. It's a different ugly
color now and I'm not sure that it's even going to hold? We have
harsh winters here. Is there any solution to fixing this?

Posting some photos would probably help if you are able to do that.

About how big is the "path"? I am guessing that if he mixed the Sakrete
concrete himself, it is not a very large area.

The chances of the top coat repair job holding up are probably slim to none.
It will surely crack and break off, probably even before next spring. And,
the idea of trying to stain it or match it for color isn't going to work.
Despite what the products say, and how they look in the sample color
brochures, any type of stain or even acid wash is just going to look bad or
worse than it already looks now.

I think the only solution at this point is to live with it for a while until
the top coat starts breaking off (which it will soon do), and then have the
original concrete "path" removed and have a new one poured and finished by
an experienced concrete company.

Sorry, to sound so negative about all of this, but I have been through this
a couple of times -- once on my own place and once when trying to help
another handyman friend who also is not much of a concrete person go back
and repair and stain a similar situation.

On Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:16:49 -0400, "TomR" wrote:

About how big is the "path"? I am guessing that if he mixed the Sakrete
concrete himself, it is not a very large area.

The chances of the top coat repair job holding up are probably slim to none.
It will surely crack and break off, probably even before next spring. And,
the idea of trying to stain it or match it for color isn't going to work.
Despite what the products say, and how they look in the sample color
brochures, any type of stain or even acid wash is just going to look bad or
worse than it already looks now.

I think the only solution at this point is to live with it for a while until
the top coat starts breaking off (which it will soon do), and then have the
original concrete "path" removed and have a new one poured and finished by
an experienced concrete company.

Sorry, to sound so negative about all of this, but I have been through this
a couple of times -- once on my own place and once when trying to help
another handyman friend who also is not much of a concrete person go back
and repair and stain a similar situation.



I agree 100% and I have done lots of concrete. The trick starts with a
good base, then well built forms that are pitched to drain the desired
way. Once the concrete sets, you are done. It is either right or you
chip it out and start over. That patch will spall off as soon as water
seeps into the joint and freezes.

On Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 10:14:06 PM UTC-4, NYArtist wrote:
My handyman isn't much of a concrete person but he attempted to do a path for
me. He used forms and hand mixed the sakrete fast drying concrete.
Unfortunately he wasn't great at pitching it and now there are puddles. So to
fix it, he mixed some sand with the gravel and drilled the concrete rough,
then topped it. It's a different ugly color now and I'm not sure that it's
even going to hold? We have harsh winters here. Is there any solution to
fixing this?


Small Claims Court

On Friday, October 14, 2016 at 11:02:10 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:16:49 -0400, "TomR" wrote:

About how big is the "path"? I am guessing that if he mixed the Sakrete
concrete himself, it is not a very large area.

The chances of the top coat repair job holding up are probably slim to none.
It will surely crack and break off, probably even before next spring. And,
the idea of trying to stain it or match it for color isn't going to work.
Despite what the products say, and how they look in the sample color
brochures, any type of stain or even acid wash is just going to look bad or
worse than it already looks now.

I think the only solution at this point is to live with it for a while until
the top coat starts breaking off (which it will soon do), and then have the
original concrete "path" removed and have a new one poured and finished by
an experienced concrete company.

Sorry, to sound so negative about all of this, but I have been through this
a couple of times -- once on my own place and once when trying to help
another handyman friend who also is not much of a concrete person go back
and repair and stain a similar situation.



I agree 100% and I have done lots of concrete. The trick starts with a
good base, then well built forms that are pitched to drain the desired
way. Once the concrete sets, you are done. It is either right or you
chip it out and start over. That patch will spall off as soon as water
seeps into the joint and freezes.

+1

DerbyDad03 posted for all of us...



On Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 10:14:06 PM UTC-4, NYArtist wrote:
My handyman isn't much of a concrete person but he attempted to do a path for
me. He used forms and hand mixed the sakrete fast drying concrete.
Unfortunately he wasn't great at pitching it and now there are puddles. So to
fix it, he mixed some sand with the gravel and drilled the concrete rough,
then topped it. It's a different ugly color now and I'm not sure that it's
even going to hold? We have harsh winters here. Is there any solution to
fixing this?


Small Claims Court

+1 Unfortunately this or have him completely remove this existing junk and
have competent people do the work.

Did you talk him into it after you either got a higher price or found out he
wasn't great with concrete?

--
Tekkie

replying to hrhofmann, NYArtist wrote:
Hi"
Thanks. I did something unusual as the concrete was drying...I spinkled
glitter on it so that the sidewalk sparkles so I probably wouldn't want to dye
it but that's a great idea. I was wondering about skim coating it and then
sprinkling the glitter on that. Do you think that the way he did the
skimming it will hold?

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...l-1111630-.htm

replying to NYArtist, NYArtist wrote:
What would I used if I decide to dye it?

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...l-1111630-.htm

In oups.com,
NYArtist m typed:
replying to NYArtist, NYArtist wrote:
What would I use if I decide to dye it?

If you are interested in trying concrete dye or concrete stain, you can do a
Google search for concrete dye or for concrete stain. You'll find lots of
information and YouTube videos etc.

But, my guess is that none of these will work to solve your situation.

Good luck.

replying to TomR, NYArtist wrote:
Thanks to all for suggestions and reaffirming my suspicions that this will not
hold and was a waste of time and money...additionally he did another section
of sidewalk (about 25" wide and 8 ft long) without using wide fortifier
inside. I dont' know what's going on..he's an older gentleman (76) and maybe
not concentrating so well at this point.
When I rip the sidewalk out that he messed up, do I use a special blade to cut
a straight line? What is the best way to do this? Thanks again.

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...l-1111630-.htm

In roups.com,
NYArtist m typed:
replying to TomR, NYArtist wrote:
Thanks to all for suggestions and reaffirming my suspicions that this
will not hold and was a waste of time and money...additionally he did
another section of sidewalk (about 25" wide and 8 ft long) without
using wide fortifier inside. I dont' know what's going on..he's an
older gentleman (76) and maybe not concentrating so well at this
point. When I rip the sidewalk out that he messed up, do I use a special
blade to cut a straight line? What is the best way to do this? Thanks
again.

Sorry, I don't really know the answer to your question. I guess it depends
on what you have there now, which is not clear. Usually, there is a seam or
line separating the old concrete from the new concrete section. Are you
able to post any photos of what you have now?

On Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 4:37:27 PM UTC-4, TomR wrote:
In roups.com,
NYArtist m typed:
replying to TomR, NYArtist wrote:
Thanks to all for suggestions and reaffirming my suspicions that this
will not hold and was a waste of time and money...additionally he did
another section of sidewalk (about 25" wide and 8 ft long) without
using wide fortifier inside. I dont' know what's going on..he's an
older gentleman (76) and maybe not concentrating so well at this
point. When I rip the sidewalk out that he messed up, do I use a special
blade to cut a straight line? What is the best way to do this? Thanks
again.

Sorry, I don't really know the answer to your question. I guess it depends
on what you have there now, which is not clear. Usually, there is a seam or
line separating the old concrete from the new concrete section. Are you
able to post any photos of what you have now?

+1

Who knows without seeing what's there. From the post, I thought this
was a whole new sidewalk, in which case it shouldn't have to be cut
from anything.

The biggest headache isn't going to be separating it. It's going to
be busting it all up and disposing of it.