Resurfacing concrete - does it work? (house, landscaping, contractor)

[eirenecat]

We have a 100 sq foot concrete patio in our backyard that is going to be incorporated into a larger deck/hot tub/landscaping project once the Great Bathroom Remodeling is finished. This patio was original to the house and has some stains and discolorations on it. Our contractor is suggesting we tile over it, and another friend has suggested having the concrete slab "resurfaced" with either stain or patterned concrete. He did the same thing around the pool area of a house he purchased.

Have any of you had resurfacing done to an existing concrete area? Did you like the result?

[10scoachrick]

Re-surfaced a driveway years ago with the then-new Quikrete Resurfacer. It held up very well; but it was a plain 'looked like new concrete' surface, nothing fancy.

Very timely post as I am in mid-project to resurface our small front porch(again, plain concrete). I just want a fresh surface to hid the cracks and crummy edges from the original install. I will use one of the super thick resurfacers from Behr, RustOleum or similar. It's a much smaller project than yours and I won't be looking for a decorative finish, just a smooth, clean look.

Your success will only be as successful as the bond between the new material and the original. Be aware that cracks are likely to return or worsen over time unless the surface is decades old. Also, please be careful if you choose tile...even exterior tile can be slick when wet...so choosing the tile carefully is key.

[eirenecat]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Re-surfaced a driveway years ago with the then-new Quikrete Resurfacer. It held up very well; but it was a plain 'looked like new concrete' surface, nothing fancy.

Very timely post as I am in mid-project to resurface our small front porch(again, plain concrete). I just want a fresh surface to hid the cracks and crummy edges from the original install. I will use one of the super thick resurfacers from Behr, RustOleum or similar. It's a much smaller project than yours and I won't be looking for a decorative finish, just a smooth, clean look.

Your success will only be as successful as the bond between the new material and the original. Be aware that cracks are likely to return or worsen over time unless the surface is decades old. Also, please be careful if you choose tile...even exterior tile can be slick when wet...so choosing the tile carefully is key.

That slippery tile issue was one reason I was thinking resurfacing might be a better idea. We don't have any cracks in this patio; it just sort of looks like the previous owners did small engine repair on it!