- 1). Clean your concrete steps thoroughly. First sweep them off with a broom. Then scrub them down with a mixture of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and hot water. If there are any mold or mildew stains on the steps, add a cup of bleach to your mix. The mix will consist of two-thirds of a bucket of hot water, one-quarter cup of TSP and 1 cup of bleach. Wear gloves while you are scrubbing to protect your hands from the cleaning agents. Rinse the steps thoroughly when you are done.
- 2). Let the steps dry completely. This might take several hours. However, your refacing will fail if you do not let the steps completely dry.
- 3). Fix any cracks. Hairline cracks can usually be left alone. However, larger cracks need to be patched with a concrete patch. This usually involves mixing up special patch mortar using distilled water and using a trowel to push it into the crack. You can also purchase a tube or gun to make the process easier. You will need to allow the patch to dry for 24 hours.
- 4). Prime your steps. The primer will make the concrete more receptive to the paint. Use a paintbrush to apply the primer in a thin, even coat. It should be pushed all the way back to the corners of the steps and in between any grout or other indentations. The primer needs to dry completely before you apply a second coat (only if the coverage is not complete) or move on to painting. This can take several hours.
- 5). Paint the steps. As with the primer, you will apply thin, even coats. You will probably want to apply two coats, waiting about two hours in between each coat. If you want to give your steps a more elaborate paint job, top off the second coat with lines to make the stone look cobbled, or veining to give the paint job a natural-stone look.
- 6). Seal your steps. Once the paint has dried, you will need to seal it. This will protect your steps and your new facing job from the weather and the constant wear and tear of being stepped on. Once the sealer has dried, you are ready to begin using and enjoying your new steps.
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