Concrete though strong and durable, it’s vulnerable to the effects of wear and tear. An old concrete floor, driveway, or sidewalk can look hideous when it deteriorates.
Whether in a commercial or residential property, damaged concrete must be fixed to restore the property’s overall aesthetics.
The problem with concrete is that its repairs or replacements are expensive and take a lot of time. This is why products such as Quikrete concrete resurfacer were created.
Quikrete allows you to fix mildly worn-out concrete floors or driveways and is affordable. It uses the existing concrete as a base and creates a durable and good-looking finish that can withstand traffic.
There are many concrete resurfacers in the market, but Quikrete stands out as one of a kind. The mixture of sand, Portland cement, and polymer modifiers will renew an old concrete driveway and leave behind an impressive finish.
There is no doubt that Quikrete concrete is an incredible resurfacer. However, some issues and complaints have been launched against it. If you intend to use it on your concrete floor or sidewalk, you must know about these issues.
Today, we will be reviewing common Quikrete concrete resurfacer problems.
1. Formation of Cured Air Bubbles Under the Resurfacer
A common problem most people encounter with Quikrete concrete resurfacer is the formation of air bubbles once the product dries. This problem occurs when you apply the Quikrete when it is too thick.
When it’s thick, you won’t be able to squeeze the contents into the old concrete openings. Therefore, as it dries, air bubbles will show up, and the finish can flake off when you rub through the bubbles.
As much as one may try to blame the manufacturers. The thickness of the Quikrete resurfacer is determined by the one doing the installation. According to the manufacturer, an 80-pound bag of Quikrete resurfacer should be mixed with 2.8 liters of water.
Make sure you have a measuring jug to get the exact amount of water into the mixture. A pro tip you should follow when mixing Quikrete resurfacer is that you are allowed to add more water until you get a workable thickness. This resurfacer becomes thick if you use less than 2.8 liters of water when preparing it.
Secondly, the best tool to prepare this product is an electric mixer. When you mix it by hand, you may not get the required level of consistency.
You should also know that thick Quikrete concrete resurfacer will dry much sooner, and you won’t have enough time to work it through the entire driveway or floor.
2. The Quikrete Cement Color Buff isn’t Very Effective
When repairing an old concrete floor or driveway, you may want to add some color to the resurfacer. This is a widespread practice aimed at enhancing the finish. Quikrete has its own color buff they recommend for use with the concrete resurfacer.
If you are excited about changing the color of your concrete driveway, I have some bad news. The Color Buff isn’t very effective. Not that it won’t have the color pigment you mixed with the resurfacer. But the shade will be off.
If it’s orange, it won’t be the neutral shade. It won’t resemble the advertised color. This will force you to paint the floors so that you can achieve your desired color.
3. Premature Cracking
It can be disappointing for a resurfacer to crack a few days after installing it. Well, this is an issue that many users of this product have complained about. Most of the complaints claim that cracking occurs within days.
Regarding this cracking problem, there are several culprits to blame. Before installation, you are advised to wash the old concrete floor.
Doing so eliminates dirt and contaminants that may prevent the Quikrete from drying. If you skip this step, the resurfacer can crack a few days after installation.
The other culprit is a highly worn-out concrete floor. As effective as resurfacers are, they are not a solution for extremely worn-out concrete.
Quikrete works by getting into the opening of old concrete and shrinking it to renew the finish of the concrete.
If the concrete is damaged beyond repair, there isn’t much that can be done. When you apply Quikrete, it will eventually crack.
Incorrect product application can also lead to the cracking of the Quikrete concrete resurfacer. Before you use this product, evaluate the condition of your concrete floor or sidewalk.
Prepare the surface correctly and install the resurfacer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Their Support isn’t Very Helpful
After spending hundreds of dollars on such a project, you would expect that customer support would assist when you run into a problem. Unfortunately, Quikrete doesn’t have a reliable support team.
When the product fails days after installation or prematurely, the support team can either decide to ignore your calls or blame you for the issue.
Another red flag with Quikrete is its unclear warranty and return policies. There is no guarantee that you will be compensated if the resurfacer fails.
5. It’s Not Durable
During the first month, Quikrete might look good and seem to hold well. But it starts to disintegrate as it’s exposed to traffic and elements like rain.
It’s not very strong because sometimes, you can remove some residue from the resurfacer just by rubbing your hand on top of it.
Eventually, Quikrete concrete resurfacer breaks down into sand particles. It gets serious to the point that you have to brush off the sand almost daily. Otherwise, you can carry it indoors when it sticks to your shoes.
As you consider using Quikrete concrete resurfacer, know that it won’t last very long, and you may have to replace it with a better resurfacer.
6. Hard to Work With
Regarding concrete resurfacing, workability is one of the key things you should consider. The problem with Quikrete is that it’s difficult to work with, especially if it’s too thick.
It ends up setting too quickly, thus giving you a hard time when working it on a floor. This can be prevented by using more water than recommended. As mentioned earlier, you are allowed to exceed the limit.
Some installers have asked the manufacturer to create a retarding agent to slow down the set time.
Is Quikrete Recommended for Use as a Concrete Resurfacer?
At least 55% of user reviews recommend Quikrete as a suitable concrete resurfacer. This is more than half, but it leaves behind a staggering 45% who don’t recommend it.
Therefore, there is a 45% chance that you may encounter some of the abovementioned problems when resurfacing your concrete driveway or floor with Quikrete.
Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer Alternatives
From what I have gathered about Quikrete is that it’s the best concrete resurfacer for interiors. The results might be disastrous when you take it outside to the driveway or sidewalk.
If you are interested in a stronger concrete resurfacer, here are some top alternatives to Quikrete.
1. Rapid Set Cement ALL
This is the go-to resurfacer for renewing concrete driveways or patios. It can be prepared thin or thick, depending on your preferences.
Besides concrete, Rapid Set can also be used on wood, stone, and brick. Its formula hardens within an hour and comes in a 55-pound which is adequate for most projects.
2. Ardex Feather Finish
Besides refinishing an old concrete surface, Ardex is a self-leveling underlayment. It can be used on floors such as hardwood and tile. It’s quite durable, and when used outdoors, it can withstand traffic and harsh outdoor weather.
3. Bluestar Concrete Resurfacer
I added Bluestar to the list of Quikrete concrete resurfacer alternatives because it comes in a 16-ounce bottle. It’s not always when you need to repair a significant amount of old concrete. This is the perfect product if you are only interested in repairing smaller areas.