Tools needed
- Steel finishing trowel
- Margin trowel
- Drill with mixing paddle
- Cold chisel
- Wire brush
- Masonry sponge
Materials needed
- Rapid Set Cement All (25 lb box)
- 3/8-inch rebar pins
- Wood framing stakes
- Clean water
Step-by-step
- 1
Dig and chip the cavity down 2 to 3 inches so there is a solid base, then square the edges with a chisel.
- 2
Wire-brush and rinse out all loose debris, then bring the surface to a damp Saturated Surface Dry (SSD) condition.
- 3
Drill and set 3/8-inch rebar pins across wide cracks, and stake wood framing boards for any edges or steps.
- 4
Mix Cement All to a thick, lump-free consistency and pack it firmly into the cavity, working fast before it sets.
- 5
Strike it level and feather the edges into the surrounding slab with a steel trowel.
- 6
Finish with a damp masonry sponge to blend the texture, then keep it damp while it cures.
Common mistakes
- • Skipping the SSD step so the dry slab sucks water out and the patch fails
- • Mixing a bigger batch than you can place in 10 minutes
- • Feathering edges too thin so they chip out
Maintenance & next steps
Reseal the repaired area with a concrete sealer once a year to keep water and salt out.
For heaving slabs, failing foundations, or cracks wider than the slab is thick.
