How Much Does Concrete Resurfacing Cost?
Concrete resurfacing is one of the simplest ways to improve the aesthetics of your driveway, home, pool area, or yard. With just the addition of some concrete, you can turn a cracked and unappealing space into an immaculate area to enjoy. Much the same way as giving a coat of paint can make a room instantly more welcoming, so can concrete resurfacing. But is it in your budget?
This guide will go over some of the most common costs involved so you can get a ballpark figure for your own resurfacing project. Depending on the existing state of the concrete, as well as your aesthetic ambitions, you may be pleasantly surprised as to how affordable the whole process can be.
Preparation Costs
Before you even get to the concrete resurfacing stage, you’ll need to do some preparation work. This will usually be bundled in with the cost of the overall project. However, it is a separate part of the process. When you’re calculating how much you expect the cost of the project to be, you’ll need to factor in the existing state of your concrete, as this will shape the amount of prep work required. The below costs will need to be included in any calculations you make:
Washing the concrete
Before you even start with any resurfacing, you’ll need to make sure the existing top level of the concrete is free from dirt and impurities. Failure to do so can result in there being an uneven surface or even the concrete failing to take. A professional-quality power wash on a concrete surface will cost somewhere around $300.
If you’re having a driveway resurfaced, you can usually get a high-end pressure wash for somewhere between $80 and $100. A power wash will cost you somewhere in the region of $130 to $220.
Preparing the underlying concrete
One of the main reasons why you may be choosing to resurface the concrete in your home is that the existing concrete is chipped or damaged. If so, you’ll need to undertake some repairs or removal before you start resurfacing. Since resurfacing involves pouring a liquid layer of concrete on top of the existing surface, the top layer will only be as smooth as the layer underneath. As such, you’ll need to prep the underlying concrete.
This will cost you somewhere in the range of $300 to $3,500. For only a small section of concrete, you’ll likely be in the $250 to $800 range. However, if some of the concrete needs removing (and therefore replacing), your bill is likely to be at least $1,000.
Leveling the concrete
Connected with the above is the need to ensure that the underlying surface is level. Pouring concrete onto a sloped surface will work about as well as you’d imagine. If the concrete has depressed areas or is cracked in multiple areas, you’ll pay somewhere around $900 to fix it before resurfacing. Ironically, this is usually done by mudjacking, which involves pumping new concrete onto the slab to level it.
Once the concrete is cleaned, prepped, and leveled, it’s ready to be resurfaced. Be sure to check with any company giving you a quote as to how much will be required in advance of resurfacing. In some instances, this can end up being the more expensive part of the process – which may lead you to consider alternate options.
Different Surface Types
The cost of materials will be a major determinant of the cost of your resurfacing project. This section will cover the costs of different surfaces in the process. Depending on your budget and your vision, the sky is really the limit when it comes to the different types of surfaces you can use in your project.
Basic Resurfacing
If you are not looking for anything fancy, then basic concrete resurfacing is where you’ll start. This involves pouring concrete over the existing surface, ensuring it is smooth, and then very little else. This is the no-frills option. The costs are as follows:
Square Footage | Lower Cost | Upper Cost |
|---|---|---|
50 sq. ft. | $150 | $250 |
100 sq. ft. | $300 | $500 |
200 sq. ft. | $600 | $1,000 |
500 sq. ft. | $1,500 | $2,500 |
700 sq. ft. | $2,100 | $3,500 |
900 sq. ft. | $2,700 | $4,500 |
1,200 sq. ft. | $3,600 | $6,000 |
1,500 sq. ft. | $4,500 | $7,500 |
As a rule of thumb, therefore, you can expect to pay somewhere between $3 and $5 per square foot if you’re planning on going for a basic resurfacing job.
Decorative Overlay Costs
If you’ve decided to undertake concrete resurfacing, then it’s likely you’re doing so for aesthetic reasons. As such, the basic option may not be exactly what you’re looking for – especially if you already have a basic concrete surface. Instead, it might be the time to go for a more decorative resurfacing. Again, there is really no limit on what you can go for.
Generally, the most common decorative resurfacing options involve some form of pattern or stamp used. The costs for these can really vary, but the below figures will give you a ballpark for your budget.
Square Footage | Lower Cost | Upper Cost |
|---|---|---|
50 sq. ft. | $350 | $1,000 |
100 sq. ft. | $700 | $2,000 |
200 sq. ft. | $1,400 | $4,000 |
500 sq. ft. | $3,500 | $10,000 |
700 sq. ft. | $4,900 | $14,000 |
900 sq. ft. | $6,300 | $18,000 |
1,200 sq. ft. | $8,400 | $24,000 |
1,500 sq. ft. | $10,500 | $30,000 |
Your rule of thumb calculation for the fancier types of resurfacing, therefore, is between $7 and $20 per square foot. This is obviously a significant rise on the basic resurfacing option, meaning you’ll need to carefully consider your budget when choosing what option to go for.
Different Types of Resurfacing Costs
Another issue to consider when working out the price is what type of surface you are resurfacing. Depending on what the surface is to be used for has a major impact on price. The following are some of the most common options available.
1
Driveway
Resurfacing your driveway not only improves the curb appeal of your home but can also help to keep your car from getting damaged. A cracked, chipped driveway can cause scratches on your car’s paintwork or even seriously damage the undercarriage. It’s difficult to factor that into the budget since it’s impossible to calculate the cost of hypothetical damage.
However, you can usually expect the overall cost of a driveway resurfacing to run to between $3 and $5 per square foot. If there is a lot of damage, the costs can run to $15 per square foot.
2
Patio
Patios have a greater range than driveways (which tend to be fairly standard). However, a patio or a walkway with a basic resurfacing is likely to be somewhere in the area of $4 per square foot (i.e., right in the middle of the basic resurfacing range). If you want something decorative, then you can expect to pay mid-range, so somewhere around $13 or $14 per square foot.
3
Pool Deck
A pool deck is one of the most common areas to get resurfaced. Because of the impact of water constantly splashing on the surface as well as the desire to have a nicer surface around what is, essentially, a luxury item, pool decks are usually ripe for resurfacing. In addition, it is common for pool deck resurfacing to be decorative in some way, albeit for a practical reason – a stamped or patterned surface will provide greater grip when wet.
For a simple 750 square-foot deck, you can expect to pay somewhere between $2,250 and $3,750. If you want a particularly fancy decorative option, the cost is likely to be between $5,000 and $9,000. For stamped concrete, you’ll pay between $6,000 and $15,000.
4
Sidewalk
If you need to resurface a sidewalk or a simple walkway in your home, then you’re perhaps less likely to get super fancy (as you would with a pool deck, for example). As such, these jobs are usually priced somewhere between $3 and $7 per square foot.
Ultimately, as suggested throughout this guide, a concrete resurfacing job is not purely an aesthetic decision but a financial one. Obviously, you’ll need to consider the budget you have, as well as the disposable income you are able to allocate for a project such as this.
However, another way to think of it is in terms of return on investment (ROI). A home with a shoddy, cracked driveway is likely to attract lower valuations than a home with a pristine, polished, and patterned driveway. This applies throughout your home.
A solid concrete resurfacing project can significantly increase the value of your home. As such, you should see any project as providing short-term aesthetic value but also (and arguably more importantly) long-term financial value.