Can You Put New Concrete On Top Of Old Concrete?

So you're thinking of installing a brand new concrete driveway or concrete patio and you don't know what is the correct way of doing things and getting your project started. Luckily in this quick article JL Enterprise will guide you and bring you great tips and tricks for all your concrete repair needs.

The answer to your question is YES! But you must make sure your current concrete slab is able to handle a new layer of concrete.

My 3 Rules For This Project

1. Make sure your concrete is at minimum 4 inches

2. Make sure there is not a significant amount of cracks

3. Make sure the concrete is clean and free of all debris

What If My Concrete Has a Lot Of Cracks?

The problem here with concrete cracks is if you bond new concrete with the old concrete the cracks will transfer on to the slab with in a week or less, in some cases you will see cracks as soon as 2 days after the initial pour of your new concrete driveway repair.

I do recommend to install a bond breaker between the new lab and the old slab, that way cracks wont transfer and cause any future daman down the line.

what can you use as a bond breaker?

1. Plastic tarp

2. Thin layer of recycled concrete

3. Sand

4. Tar Paper

By applying any of these bond breakers it will prevent any cracks transferring from the old patio or driveway to the new layer. This is a very important step!

Is reinforcement important for my new driveway or patio?

Of course! reinforcement is ALWAYS recommended on any of your concrete repairs or new builds! You can go with either mesh wire or rebar if the concrete is thick enough and will allow room for this. Simply put yes, you should always use some kind of reinforcement for you driveway installation.

In Summery

JL Enterprise has done hundreds of projects where we have to pour a new layer of concrete over the old damaged slab poured originally. Use my recommendations provided in this quick article as a guideline for you concrete repair.

If you have any questions or are in need for an estimate for your concrete repair in Denver, Colorado, please feel free to call one of our concrete contractors in Denver and book your free consultation.