Concrete Resurfacing Des Moines - Overlays for Flaking & Salt-Damaged Concrete

Concrete resurfacing in Des Moines puts a new wearing surface on concrete that's still solid underneath but flaking, pitted or worn on top.

Call (515) 585-4111 Request a Quote

Worker spreading a thin resurfacing overlay across an old salt-scaled driveway with a squeegee

It costs a fraction of tearing out and repouring, as long as the slab is a good candidate.

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(515) 585-4111

Call anytime or send the form. Either way, you get a site visit and a written, itemized quote.

Shoveled concrete driveway and sidewalk with sand for traction between snowbanks on a sunny winter morning

Is Your Slab a Candidate?

Resurfacing fixes the top, not the structure. Good candidates:

Surface scaling, where thin flakes have popped off and left a rough, pitted finish. In Des Moines this is usually salt plus freeze-thaw.
Popouts, worn broom finish, and old patches that don't match.
A sound but dated patio, pool deck or walk that you want to look new.

Poor candidates: slabs that are sunken, heaved, rocking, or cracked through into separate pieces. An overlay on moving concrete cracks right along with it. Those slabs need leveling or replacement instead.

How We Resurface

Surface prep is most of the job. We pressure-wash, grind or shot-blast off the loose, flaking layer down to sound concrete, patch the deeper spots and cracks, and keep the existing joints so they carry through the overlay. Then we apply a polymer-modified cement overlay. A broom or float finish gives traction, and a stamped or textured overlay can add a stone or slate pattern. Every overlay gets sealed once it cures.

Worker patching a chipped corner of a concrete garage apron with repair mortar and a trowel

Example illustration, not a photo of a completed project.

Example illustration: salt-scaled front steps with flaking, pitted concrete — Step resurfacing

Example illustration: the same steps resurfaced with a smooth new cement overlay — Step resurfacing

What It Costs

HomeGuide's national range for resurfacing is $3 to $7 a square foot, and $6 to $20 for a decorative or stamped overlay. Its sample figures:

HomeGuide says a resurfaced slab lasts 8 to 15 years before it needs repairs, which is shorter than new concrete. That's the trade-off for the lower price, and we'll tell you whether a new slab is the better value for your situation.

Concrete resurfacing: national cost by size (HomeGuide)
Area	Typical cost
10' x 10' patio	$300 – $700
20' x 20' two-car driveway	$1,200 – $2,000
24' x 24' driveway or garage	$1,700 – $2,900
4' x 50' sidewalk	$600 – $1,400

Keeping It From Happening Again

Salt scaling is preventable. Seal the new surface, reseal on schedule, shovel early so less melting is needed, and go easy on chemical deicers. See concrete sealing.

Worker in a safety vest rolling clear sealer onto a concrete driveway, the sealed half darker and glossy, in front of a two-car garage with fall trees

Get a Resurfacing Quote

Send close-up photos of the damage and a wide shot of the whole slab. Call (515) 585-4111 anytime or use the quote form.

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