How Quikrete Works

It seems like there's always something wrong with the house. After winter melted away, the pathway out front had a ton of new cracks. Then, as spring progressed, the rain showers showed just how flood-prone the basement is. And no matter what time of year, the garage floor always looks dingy.

Repairs can be costly. A dirty garage floor isn't necessarily a big problem, but it can be frustrating. This is where Quikrete products come into play. Whether you're repairing concrete structures or coating surfaces to maintain quality, Quikrete products can be a simple and inexpensive solution - they can make these household repairs can be a do-it-yourself process.

Concrete is a mixture of cement, water and aggregate (like gravel or sand). It's a popular building material because it's inexpensive and its ingredients are so simple and abundant. Concrete is also moldable and comes in multiple colors, making it extremely versatile and appropriate for a wide range of projects. A final plus: Concrete is tough. It's resistant to fire, rot, decay, extreme temperatures, wind, water and animal wear-down. The problem is, it's tricky to work with and takes a great deal of time to fully dry [source: Materials Science and Technology]. That's the advantage of Quikrete.

Depending on the amount you use, quick-drying Quikrete concrete can set in as little as 10 minutes, although the common time for larger projects is between 20 and 40 minutes [source: Pavement Package]. You can buy it in small packages or bulk and then prepare, set and finish it all in one day. It relieves a lot of time and money stress associated with large home repairs -- if you don't want to rent a truck and heavy equipment or hire a contractor, Quikrete is for you.

The next two pages will go into more of the specific details of how to mix and set Quikrete, and what options you have. Head over to the next page to start learning setting up your own concrete project.

How to Mix Quikrete

Normal concrete is tough to work with. Many concrete projects will deplete your expense account -- you'll have to rent a heavy-duty concrete mixing truck and all the other materials you'll need. Then, if you can't get the truck right up to the site where you'll be laying the concrete, you'll need additional transportation equipment and labor. Laying concrete isn't that tricky, but it's still often beyond the do-it-yourselfer's time and physical capabilities. You'll usually have to hire a professional to do the job, adding yet another expense. Taking care of your concrete needs with Quikrete might save you money, time and effort.

The general rule for achieving a good Quikrete texture is to use one part water for every five parts of mix. For the best results, it should have the consistency of modeling clay [source: Quikrete]. To get the right mix, you may need to experiment with the proportions, the way you would when trying to perfect your bowl of oatmeal. If the Quikrete is too thick, add small amounts of water slowly. If it's too thin, add more Quikrete mix. When you've gotten the desired results, you can use a small garden shovel to do small touchups, or mold entire batches of Quikrete into large projects

Head over to the next page to read about your Quikrete coating options.

The Cretesheet

Mixing Quikrete is easier than mixing concrete, but it can be challenge. To simplify this process, John Shoemaker invented the Cretesheet, which is basically a tough, square piece of tarp plastic about 4 feet square (1.22 meters square), with plastic handles attached to all four corners. You place the Quikrete mix in the middle of the sheet, add the appropriate amount of water, and then you and a partner can simply move the handles up and down to mix the Quikrete. The sheet costs less than $20 and can take away a lot of the difficulties associated with stirring your concrete mix by hand [source: Burlingame].

Quikrete Coatings

Concrete should be treated to protect its surface. Adding a coating or a sealer over your finished cured concrete will help protect it from chipping and fading, as well as make it easier to clean. Apply the coat to the fully cured surface and your concrete will require less maintenance [source: My Garage Floor Coatings].

Here are the Quikrete coating substances:

Epoxy Garage Floor Coating -- used primarily for coating garage floors, but also appropriate for any interior concrete surface
Epoxy Multi-Surface Coating -- used to strengthen and seal interior concrete floors, but is also appropriate for outdoor surfaces such as walkways and patios
Premium Clear Epoxy Coating -- best for interior surfaces but is also said to perform well in the garage
Epoxy Industrial Floor Coating -- this heavy-duty product is best for surfaces like garage floors that see heavy traffic and harsh conditions
Anti-Skid Textured Coating -- good for stairs and pool decks, this seal is meant to protect against skid marks in high-traffic areas [source: Quikrete Coatings]

Beyond products with "coatings" in the name, there are several other products for sealing and finishing your concrete surfaces:

Basement & Concrete Floor Paint
Garage Floor Sealer
1-Part Epoxy: Garage Floor Sealer
Multi-Surface Concrete Sealer
Natural Look Water-proofer
Wet Look High Gloss Sealer
Etching Stain High Gloss Sealer
High Gloss Sealer
Exposed Aggregate Sealer [source: Quikrete Coatings]

Whether or not you decide to take your household repairs into your own hands, Quikrete may be the time- and cost-effective method you need. If you have further questions, head over to your local hardware store or big box chain, and you should be able to take a look at the variety of Quikrete products on the market.

How Quikrete Works

How to Mix Quikrete

Quikrete Coatings

Lots More Information

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