How to resurface Pebblecrete outdoor entertaining area?

Fastally

Hi, I would like to resurface my outisde entertaining area as the previous concrete has been eroded over time with water and has left all the agregate exposed to the point where it hurts your feet to walk on it. 

The surface is on a slight slope so my initial throught of doing some sort of self levelling wouldnt work I assume as the concrete would fall to one side?

Any ideas of how to resurface this area, or woould a new slab be the answer.

Thanks

JacobZ

Hi @Fastally,

Thanks for reaching out.

Self-levelling products, unfortunately, will not be suitable in this situation. These compounds cannot be used as a finished outdoor surface because they are not typically designed to cope with weather, UV exposure or ongoing foot traffic. They also will not behave properly on a sloped slab, as they will naturally flow downhill rather than create an even layer.

There are concrete repair and resurfacing systems available, such as Dulux Avista, which can be used to repair damaged surfaces. However, when the base slab is already badly eroded, the aggregate is exposed, and there are structural cracks, these products are usually not a practical option. They rely on a stable, uniform surface to bond to and can easily fail if the concrete underneath has deteriorated too much.

If you are set on resurfacing the concrete, at this point, your best next step would be to speak with a concrete resurfacing professional to assess the condition of the slab and determine whether it can be repaired effectively. If the issues are too extensive, the most reliable long-term solution may be to remove and replace the slab entirely. A professional will be able to tell you which option is the safest and most cost-effective based on what they see.

Alternatively, you could look at paving over the slab, using mortar to adhere your pavers to the surface. The mortar would act as both a bonding agent and a method of levelling the pavers. This could be a simple way to restore a smoother surface in your yard without the need for complex resurfacing or replacement of the slab.

Another option might be to have the surface ground back so that the surface is not so sharp underfoot. Due to the complex nature of the work, this would likely require the assistance of a professional concrete grinding company.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob