Hi guys,

I have a gap in the corners of a concrete pad where the old wood trim of my old garage door displaced the pad pour. So, I've kind of missed this issue in the planning stages, and now I've got to fill in the gap to keep water (and mice) from finding it's way into my garage.

With the wood removed, it's revealed approximately a 6" long x (up to) 2" wide x ~ 1" deep gap that needs filled. Ideally this filler will be of some sort of concrete, hopefully tinted somewhat honey brown and with aggregate. The aggregate is not an urgent need I guess, but it must adhere to the surrounding concrete, hold up to the weather and seal out water infiltration.

Any insights from the pros as to what the best product/products are to use?

The only way I know to do this is to use a concrete bonding agent on the low spot before pouring in the concrete patch. I don’t have any experience doing this so I can’t recommend a brand. You’ll have to research that. Concrete contractors may have better/different ideas. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
I’ll add this, try not to have any wood embedded in concrete. Wood eventually rots and then you’ll have the same problem.

Home Depot sells Rapid Set Cement All

Here is YouTuber I follow using it for Concrete repair:

That’s going to be a challenge.

I would suggest looking into using self leveling concrete to get in all the nooks and crannies.

I don’t think they sell a tinted product and as far as aggregate is concerned that is probably something that you will have to add manually into the mix when poured then groomed and washed off at the end.

You could just tell people that you were practicing your brush out technique, and got a little over enthusiastic!

Top and Bond is the stuff you need. Sold in a bucket. You can apply it real thin up to a half inch.
When I worked with a mason we used this a lot for repairs.

You can use Sika's Sikacryl Ready-Mix Concrete Patch and Repair. Sika makes a lot of commercial and industrial concrete related products. I've used them on several building renovations over the years for exterior repairs.

Whatever you use, it will not match what you have. Just know that. Secondly, given enough time, it will probably crack and spall around that area again because you will have two different materials due to age and composition of the materials itself. However, I wouldn't sweat it too much.

The best thing you can do is properly prep those damaged areas by cleaning out any damaged or loose material and making sure there is a rough surface for the patch to adhere to. Always install to the manufacturers directions. Many of these patching compounds are intended for surface imperfections like 1/4" to 1/2" deep, so you may need to do multiple layers or find a compound that is indented for deeper repairs. We use to use epoxy based patch for airfield repairs, but I would not recommend it. It would setup within a very short time, but they always seemed to pop back out over time and a larger repair needed. Part of that was probably poor prep by the contractor doing the work.

I would use Top Bond. When you are at Home Depot, go to the pea gravel aisle and pick up a handful that is laying on the ground from busted bags and mix it in.

Just read the instructions on the Top Bond. Sounds like that's the ticket! No bonding agent needed, so that makes the job simpler and cheaper.

THANKS GUYS!

I'd also probably cut that wood so that it is slightly higher than your finished repair.

Thought I'd close the thread with the result. I'm happy. My only regret is getting some of the honey brown sealer on the existing pad and it really added a layer/ring of darkness that shows. It'll wear down and I'll re-seal the whole pad in the spring anyway.

I glad it worked. Its nice to see the results.
Is that black piece an expansion joint?

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
Is that black piece an expansion joint?

Yes, they put that between the old garage floor slab and the new surface.