Bondo to fill in spots on concrete porch

Of course its possible. I *LOVE* Bondo. But not on a horizontal surface that is going to get walked on. Unless the spots are really small.

Go rent a floor sander. The big square vibrating ones are easy to use, no chance of digging divots into the floor.

Use DuraGlas

Bondo makes a filler with fiberglass also, but I've never tried it.

Be prepared for some tough sanding.

I've used it on my swimming pool deck. It holds up pretty well. I pressure wash first. I've been considering using an epoxy primer *prior* to applying.

Bondo does shrink a little and it's not a permanent solution. I use household Bondo quite a bit. Pretty handy stuff to have around. If that DuraGlas doesn't shrink it might work better.

Concrete is HELL on sandpaper!!!

I've used Top'n Bond many times over the years for concrete filling.

Paul

I am (STILL!!) working on repainting my concrete porch (approx 10x10 + 2 steps). Scraping off decades of paint is a bitch. Earlier layers oil-based; later ones water-based (California banned oil-based). Uneven wearing. Spots that look like beaches on a lake...various depths.

In past years I used SOMETHING ???? to fill in that did not wear well.

Paint store heard my sad story & said Bondo could be used to fill in low spots.

Bondo possible?

TIA

HB Cover it with Trex. Future problems solved. WW

She reverse-plonked you? I don't believe I've heard that one.

There's also Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer. I did my very badly pitted garage floor with this product a couple of years ago. We don't park any cars in the garage, so I'm not surprised that it's stood up very well to foot traffic.

I don't really like Bondo because it'll suck in water (lots of talc as a filler)

Alternate idea - heat gun or torch to get *all* the old paint off, then etch with muriatic acid and paint as per usual?

nate

Interesting.

The site said " QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer (No. 1131) is a special blend of portland c ement, sand, polymer modifiers and other additives. Designed to provide a s hrinkage compensated repair material for making ***thin repairs*** to sound concrete in need of surface renewal. Can be squeegee, trowel or brush appl ied.

What do you think they mean by "thin repairs". The "leprosy" spots on my c oncrete porch are mostly *less* than 1" deep. Would the Quikcrete product w ork?

TIA

HB

Yes, it might be, but paint isn't.

You move the machine to the left and the right and when you see you're exposing the concrete, you move on to the next section.

This method is commonly used to sand the polyurethane off of hardwood floors, and so as long as you don't try to sand the concrete down, it'll work on a porch.

In fact, one Canadian janitorial equipment manufacturer, Centaur, makes a floor machine called the "Woodpecker" specifically for sanding the polyurethane off hardwood floors. It is used along with a vaccuum cleaner to simultaneously vaccuum up the sanding dust created.

And besides, at $5 to $15 max for a sanding screen, you can remove a lot of paint for $10.

You just have to be careful using it on concrete because high productivity pads are only about half the thickness of a regular floor machine pad. A person could always use two high productivity pads and a Big Mouth to hold them concentric.

Possible. Up to now, apply Jason, cover, let work, scrape. Takes time and work to clear a 3x3' area. Take forever to do 10x10 plus steps. I don't have very powerful torch, but I guess I could try a small area...

Appreciate all suggestions!

HB

I LOVE Trex, but never thought of applying it over concrete. Do you know of situations where this has been done? Does it require a "bed" to "nestle" in? If so, what is advised? What about the steps, risers and treads?

Also: Around the E. and S. sides of the porch, the concrete was evidently poured at a slight angle -- perhaps to facilitate rain runoff? These areas are about 14" wide, and run the length of the E & S walls - 10' ea. One would have to cut the Trex separately and butt it into the flat layers, yes?

HB

Nate: Afterthought. Would the Bondo still "suck in water" if covered with 1 coat primer & 2 coats paint? Or do you mean during process of applying Bondo to eroded spots?

HB

Gotta be carefull with a torch on conrete though. Too much heat and you have ANOTHER hole to fill, and concrete bits embedded in your face/whatever.

You do NOT want to use regular polyester filler on concrete. Epoxy or vinyl-ester resin and chopped fiberglass might work though.

My Trex front porch is built over the original concrete "stoop", and extended beyond. Where it is built over the concrete I ran some HDPE strips over the concrete, and fastened the trex over that.

So it is. No idea why I read "concrete" but thought "wood".

Talc is about the most impermeable mineral around. That's why they used to - maybe still do - use it for chem lab counters.

Used in that manner, there is no need to seal it; in fact, you *CAN'T seal it, sealer won't penetrate. And yes, I know that people sometimes apply mineral oil but the oil isn't soaking in, just sits on top and colors the surface by making it look wet.