As written in previous articles and posts, concrete is a very convertible material that has dozens of different applications. Broken concrete, like many other materials involved in home projects, can be fixed with the right pair of hands. However, under the dire circumstances, when and if concrete is beyond repair, only one service, resurfacing, is available for homeowners with this confounded issue.
In most cases, resurfacing concrete, whether it has to be done on a patio or a driveway, will cost you about $3 to $5 per square foot. There are even some instances where the homeowner will end up paying for $10 per square foot, depending on the size and the material being used. Keep in mind that there will also be a cost for the sealant being applied.
| Average Range | $300-$7500 |
| Low End | $150 |
| High End | $30000 |
Within the inventory and assortment of sealant materials you can purchase, the price you’ll likely be looking at will range from $0.15 to $0.70 per square foot. There might also be the option of spending $20 to $80 per gallon. On average, a homeowner could spend up to $300 to $7500. On the low end, the estimated cost would probably be $150, however, the high end would probably cost about $30000.
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Concrete Resurfacing Cost
Depending on the kind of concrete contractor you decide to hire, you’ll probably have to spend about $3 to $10 per square foot for both the concrete and the labor. Smaller projects will probably range between $300 to $500. This cost will most likely act as the flat fee for certain contractors.
Homeowners will want this service provided by contractors and experts unless they wish to further their damages. Typically, this kind of project is for homeowners who haven’t particularly thought about the soundness of their concrete. Remind yourself that concrete can last to the span of 30 to 40 years. However, with the right kind of maintenance, that number can be increased to about 50 years. Just remember, accidents and misfortune can strike at any moment. So it's best to make sure that you have the right kinds of estimates available to you. This way, you'll have the project accomplished in a timely manner and have an affordable price for the jobs in mind.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Concrete is commonly the material that homeowners tend to forget about after they’re done constructing the portion of their provided spaces. However, the time will come when you’ll require these services, so it’s best to consider these estimates in the future. Keep in mind that all estimates that are written below will be varied, depending on the location you live in.
Decorative Overlay
There are different options for decorative overlay services. Whether you’re considering the installation of various colors, a unique polish, or distinct saw cuts, you’ll likely have to spend about $4 to $12 per square foot. Although this option costs a little more than your standard pour job, you’ll have a less costly service making your resurfacing project look more pristine. Rather than having to apply stone or brick for your resurfacing, you can use concrete to finish whatever you had in mind.
One of the benefits to having an overlay feature included into your services is how the homeowner can etch the concrete. Small stones can also be embedded to simulate different appeals to the areas you’re trying to have resurfaced.
Stamped Concrete
For the stamped concrete service, you’ll have your array of embeds, dividers, stencils, and epoxy terrazzo. These varieties give you a great collection of patterns and designs. Overall, the average estimate for any of these options will range between $8 to $20 per square foot. Typically, once the concrete is already poured, it is then colored and stamped with the special style or design you’re looking to apply.
The major difference between the two options is that decorative overlays proceed with the method of mixing and pouring the concrete over the current area. Once that is done, the surface is stamped, carved, and colored. This is probably why the overlay costs a little less than the actual stamping process since it is a lot quicker to complete.
Brick And Stone
Give your concrete some flair by including a border around the edges of the concrete with bricks and paved stones. Ranging between $6 and $15 per linear foot, brick and stone borders can be installed. Other than the actual concrete being methodically reinvented, homeowners should think about the appeal of the other components in your concrete area. Since this whole project isn't only to repair your concrete, but to make it look slightly more improved than how it looked before.
Concrete Driveway Resurfacing
In all likelihood, you probably spent about $1200 to $4000 when you initially had the concrete in your driveway installed. Or, you might have spent about $4 to $18 per square foot, depending on how big your driveway is. Luckily, the average that you’d spend to resurface it will only cost you about $3 to $5 per square foot.
On average, you’ll likely encounter an average range of $1700 to $3000 for the concrete contractor to resurface a 38x16 square foot driveway. If your concrete is sustaining too much damage, to the point where a resurface isn’t enough, you’ll probably spend about $3700 to reinstall a new one.
Driveway Repairs By Issue
Though the main purpose of resurfacing a concrete driveway is to make sure it is renewed, if all you’re dealing with are minor damages, then you should opt into repairs. Homeowners will have to deal with $1.10 to $4.50 per square foot for repair costs. However, the range also depends on whether you’re trying to correct minor cracks or major issues with the structure.
Sinking
Making repairs for a sunken area will probably estimate between $1.10 to $4.50 per square foot. But this cost will depend on which location needs to be fixed. If the sunken part of your home is the apron, you probably should expect a range between $1.10 to about $1.40 to reposition it and fill out the spaces.
Pitted
Typically, you’ll see jagged lines within the compression of your concrete. This is a sign that your material is pitted. Costs to repair these kinds of problems will range between $1.75 to $2 per square foot. In fact, sooner or later, pitting becomes a problem for driveways that are long overdue for a professional service.
Crumbling
A professional concrete contractor will be able to patch and seal the crumbles in your driveway with efficiency and rapid results. However, the price for the job will probably range between $1.75 to $2 per square foot. The estimated cost is similar to fixing a pit because the hurdles of both jobs are relatively similar.
Cracks
Depending on the size of the cracks, your cost range will look very different. If your driveway is only riddled with a few hairline cracks, the estimate will probably range from $1.75 to $2 per square foot. However, larger cracks should cost between $2 to $2.50 per square foot. Typically, the cracks are filled with some kind of sealant or application. However, if the crack is irreparable, you should opt into the resurfacing job instead.
Joint Expansion
The reason why there are joints in concrete driveways is because there needs to be some sort of climate control that keeps the material from expanding and tightening. Homeowners should expect to pay about $1.75 to $3.50 per square foot to close the gaps that may be causing possible concerns. The most common route that the contractor will take is replacing the old sealant with a new one.
Pothole
Probably the most indistinguishable issue out of the list and the one that costs the most, depending on how severe any of the other problems are. Ranging between $150 and $200 for each individual pothole, the contractor will have a somewhat daunting list of things to do before the job can be completed.
| Type | Cost Range |
| Sinking | $1.10-$4.50 per square foot |
| Pitted | $1.75-$2 per square foot |
| Crumbles | $1.75-$2 per square foot |
| Cracks | $1.75-$2.50 per square foot |
| Expanded Joints | $1.75-$3.50 per square foot |
| Potholes | $150-$200 per hole |
Whoever you decide to hire will bring in the proper equipment to get rid of any protrusions that may be stuck in the old concrete. More likely, the professional will have a chisel and sledgehammer or a jackhammer to remove these large chunks of concrete. Once that is done, they’ll use the new concrete and level the patch, smoothing everything out.
Foundation Resurfacing Cost
If there is a crack or a large hole that damages the concrete in your foundation or basement, you’ll probably have to spend about the same rate as the resurfacing job mentioned above. However, the big difference between resurfacing a foundation and resurfacing a driveway is the size of the respective projects. The initial installation will have probably cost you about $10 to $25 per square foot for an unfinished basement. However, homeowners that wanted to install concrete into a finished basement will have paid about $30 to $100 per square foot instead.
Patio Or Walkway Resurfacing Cost
A patio can either be large or small, depending on the homeowner, but the walkway is usually of standard size. Typically, you’ll spend about $4 per square foot for a professional concrete resurfacing. There are additional costs that are determined by the other considerations that the homeowner can make.
Resurfacing Your Sidewalk
The cost of having the sidewalks in your property resurfaced ranges from $3 to $7 per square foot. Depending on how much foot traffic your sidewalk handles and how old or damaged the sidewalk is, this cost can be from one end to the other. Making repairs for the sidewalk will probably, on average, cost about $2000.
Professional Resurfacing Process
Utilizing a concrete contractor will help ease your mind with the tedious process of having to make unnecessary repairs to your concrete-installed areas. Homeowners should keep in mind that there are other services that may need to go into the overall resurfacing job. Your specialist won’t be able to conduct their practices unless these other tasks are performed.
Power or Pressure Washing Concrete
Homeowners should expect to spend an average between $80 and $200 to have their concrete driveways pressure washed. Meanwhile, to have their driveways power washed will range between $130 to $220. You have to keep in mind that there is one single difference between these two methods.
Both washing methods will consist of water and different cleaning solutions, however, power washing will probably use hot water instead. Although they’ll both get the desired results, homeowners should remind themselves that pressure washing is the method preferred for concrete. Since power washing is primarily the technique for cemented areas, suffice to say, your best option moving forward is to have the concrete pressure washed.
Concrete Repairs Or Demolition
With certain circumstances, you’ll probably have to deal with either a concrete removal or make slight repairs. Repairs that might need to be made will probably range between $250 to $800. Considering the fact that cracks wider than ⅛ of an inch should quickly be resurfaced, instead of repaired. This is because that size will likely affect the overall integrity of the concrete’s foundation.
This is while costs for a concrete demolition will probably be estimated around $400 to $1000. Contractors will charge you about $2 to $6 per square foot, depending on the size and depth of the concrete that needs to be removed. With some instances, you might expect to pay about $1000 to $3000. The difficulty in this part of the process is having to remove any reinforced material.
Concrete Level Or Mudjacking
A key aspect of installing or even resurfacing concrete is keeping the ground leveled. This will probably result in additional costs. Homeowners should anticipate the cost of $900 for a professional to ensure that the area is kept leveled. However, keep in mind that if your concrete is already in good condition and the ground is already stable, this job won’t be necessary.
Concrete Pouring
Once the surface is ready and clean, you’ll be able to pour in the readied material and pour it for the resurface. The actual traveling, with the mixing truck and other fees included, will range between $1500 to $5700. Remember that this job will probably take about 90 minutes or 300 rotations to have completed.
Priming The Concrete Surface
Coating the area with epoxy that you’re planning to resurface will, on average, cost between $1400 to $2900. Due to the indiscrepancies that can potentially damage the concrete, epoxy is the material that helps your area avoid any such defacement. One of the reasons as to why a homeowner would want their area coated is due to the amount of traffic your area might be circulating. This would especially be the case if you’re a homeowner with a wide collection of vehicles.
When To Refinish Concrete
If homeowners have the desire to prevent their concrete from being damaged by the environment, you’ll want your concrete refinished. It’ll cost about $120 to $200, however, remember that a refinishing process needs to be done properly, or else complications will grow. Normally, these issues can also potentially happen from exposure to water.
Both refinishing and resurfacing will give your concrete a better-looking condition. However, a contractor that is handling a resurfacing job will take a lot less longer than one that is handling a refinishing job. To refinish your concrete surface, the specialist will sand and grind away any damages from the top layer.
Typically, it is this layer that you’ll want to get rid of. Refinishers will then fill the gaps, thin the cracks, and finally, they’ll polish and cover up the seal. It’s unfortunate but homeowners should keep in mind that refinishing is about aesthetics, while resurfacing is about eliminating the small blemishes.
Replacement Costs
If replacing your concrete is the only viable option, then you may have larger costs to deal with. However, it’d be in your best interest to have this done since some damages can result in the worst-case scenarios. Costing about $4 to $15 per square foot, the replacement price will probably seem similar to the price of your initial installation.
Unfortunately, contractors won’t give any discounted rates for reinstalling concrete and the range will probably reflect according to the project. In essence, having your materials resurfaced is the same as having the area repaved. For the replacement process, homeowners will need to apply the demolition costs that are mentioned above and the cost of replacing the area as well.
Finding Multiple Estimates Through House Tipster
Remind yourself that whether you’re aiming to repair or to renew your concrete, you’ll probably need a collective of different professional personnel to assist you with the project. This all depends on the span and condition of your concrete as well. Ultimately, House Tipster can help you with finding the right kind of professionals for these services listed above.
With our web tool, you can quickly look through all the reviews that the professionals have and find the one that fits your needs. Do you have a proclivity for someone who’s more ethical in their competence? Or are you looking for a specialist that can offer you the lowest estimate? Maybe you might be looking for a professional who can provide you with the best of both worlds.
Thanks to our chat system, you can directly contact the professional you’ve been looking for. By doing so, you can ask for what kind of deals they may have to offer or questions you’d been wondering about. Rather than having to call multiple professionals for estimates and wasting time that could be spent on your unfinished projects, use House Tipster to lift the first load.
Featured Photo By Decorative Concrete Kingdom On Flickr
