Your sidewalk contractors adds a certain look to your home. A clean and smooth sidewalk creates a strong impression on the pedestrians. On the other hand, if it has uneven surfaces and a ragged outlook, people can trip and fall. This can lead to some serious injuries on your curb.
Even though the sidewalk has concrete as the base element, time tests them harshly. They can start degrading after some time. Eventually, you’ll have to replace the entire curb. Many factors contribute to this degradation like extreme weather conditions and water. Hiring a team of professional sidewalk repair Manhattan contractors can be quite expensive.
You can save money by doing a DIY project over the weekend if you follow this easy step-by-step guide. Roll up your sleeve, put on safety goggles, and let’s start.
Sidewalk Contractors Estimation
This is the first and most important step. You need to examine the damaged area. You can calculate the damage and estimated time and cost. Though concrete is a tough material but no need to worry. With the right tools and techniques, you can work with it.
After the early assessment, make a list of all the things you are going to need for this job. You’ll find most tools in your garage. You can buy some from the local hardware store.
Cutting out Faulted Section
The next thing you need to do is to take out the faulty section from the curb. You can use certain blades for this job. Your masonry blade will cut through the concrete but it will take time. Remember there’ll also be dust clouds. You can also use a diamond blade but that’ll cost you. After cutting and removing the damaged area, clean the dirt and debris off the surface. You can use a broom or a leaf blower for sidewalk repair Queens this purpose.
Removing Dirt & Roots
You need to clear the area by cleaning it thoroughly. Check for the roots from nearby trees. These roots are sometimes the main cause of uneven surfaces on a curb. They can lift the surface by growing into it. Tug out all the roots and remove any big chunks of rock or concrete to create a smooth surface. You should also take out the extra mud while you are at it.
Soil Compaction
After removing the broken piece, the next step is to compact the soil underneath. You can use a hand compactor for this task. You need to have an even surface before your pour concrete on it. In addition to that, if you don’t use enough compactor, the surface beneath will collapse after some time.
The compaction will create an even and smooth surface. This process will also create a strong base for your sidewalk. If you follow these easy steps, you will not need any sidewalk contractors for this job.
Sidewalk Contractors Concrete Pouring
The next step in this process is preparing the concrete mixture and pouring it on the surface. Concrete can be a tricky material if you don’t use it properly. It can dry quickly so you’ll need to move fast with precision.
Add water to concrete and give it a good mix. Way your work in and make a circle of the mixture. You need to have an estimate that how much concrete you’ll need for this job. After mixing, your mixture should have a thick consistency. If it is more in a liquid form, it’ll simply float away and you’ll end up making a big mess.
Pour it carefully on the surface. Use a wood float to spread it for Sidewalk Repair Bronx evenly all over the surface. The tighter the better. You need to have a thick surface of the concrete to make it strong. Make sure to even out with its adjacent block. Sidewalk contractors in Brooklyn would cost you a lot for this simple job that you can do by yourself without any hassle or certain training.
Drying & Moistening
After pouring, you should wait for it to dry. It’ll take 2 to 3 days to fully dry but the outer surface will dry up pretty quickly. You need to keep pouring water once the outer surface is fully dried out. Put covers on it and let it rest for the night.
The next morning, remove the covers and water them again. You need to repeat this process for a couple of days before you start using it. This process will make it firm in place and it will last longer this way.
We hope that this easy guide will help you patch or repair your ragged sidewalk. If you think your entire sidewalk needs to be replaced then you can call sidewalk contractors for help. Give them your time and budget and they will do the rest.
