Stone Resurfacing Vs. Concrete

Stone Resurfacing

• Stone resurfacing involves repairing the surface of concrete by applying an epoxy stone coat over cracked or damaged concrete. Whether you wish to resurface a sidewalk, driveway or patio area, stone resurfacing can dramatically alter the appearance of the concrete while restoring its integrity. This process typically involves applying an epoxy base directly on the concrete, then adding smooth-stone epoxy slurry on the ground. Upon drying, the surface is even and the concrete is resurfaced.

Concrete Resurfacing

• Resurfacing concrete while maintaining its concrete appearance is done by adding a specialized blend of concrete, polymer modifiers and sand directly to cracked or damaged areas. Concrete resurfacing is ideal for structurally sound concrete slabs with only minor breaks or chemical stains. Concrete resurfacing may be done using do-it-yourself kits or hiring a professional resurfacing company.

Benefits

• Perhaps one of the most notable benefits of stone resurfacing is the ability to transform the appearance of an outdoor or indoor area without having to completely remove existing floors. Stone resurfacing offers a textured appearance designed to withstand heavy use and traffic.

  Concrete resurfacing is ideal to repair minor blemishes on a concrete slab without fully transforming the appearance of the concrete. Because concrete resurfacing uses concrete to fix cracks and other malformations, its cost is significantly lower than stone resurfacing. However, either method is cheaper than installing a new driveway, sidewalk or patio slab.

Drawbacks

• Maintenance is the biggest drawback with stone resurfacing. Over time, the small pieces of stone that make up a stone resurfaced area become dislodged. Thus, repairing the newly resurfaced area often becomes part of yearly maintenance. To repair a stone resurfaced concrete slab, a small amount of the stone epoxy slurry must be applied to the area. This requires additional time and money after the initial investment.

  The most prominent drawback of concrete resurfacing is the lack of design choices. Because this method of resurfacing is only meant to repair existing cracks, the overall appearance of the driveway remains intact.