Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Ice-Melt Crystals Destroyed Concrete Walk

I have been traveling, so in an effort to be nice, fake "salt" was dumped on our concrete walk to melt the ice.

The sidewalk was poured in July...

So the crystals have "sloughed" off the top layer of the walk.

I would like to just refinish the top, if possible.

I presume I can't just get some concrete and trowel it over the walk? Is there a prep layer first? What to do what to do?

Its been a 17 hour day and my mind is tired, so I cannot recall off hand the name of the material. Any Home Improvement store or concrete supplier will have it. It comes in a bag. It is called something like skim coat. You mix it up with water and smooth in on your sidewalk. It is not very cheap, and one bag does not go very far. It is very important to follow the directions exactly. It takes a long time to mix up. Next year put kitty litter on your side walk. Good Luck

Quikrete Resurfacer is available almost anywhere. It's designed to do what you are describing. Follow the directions on the bag for prep. I would pressure wash first with a POWERFUL gas pressure washer, not an electric homeowner model. This will remove any loose material that still looks bonded but isn't. Follow up with an acid wash followed by neutralizing and wash again to remove the residue. Mix the material exactly as the directions state. Do not add extra water or it will destroy the integrity of the product. Good luck.

You may find the following article on ice melt products helpful: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=716

rjbinney: Yes, Pecos has the correct name. Thank you Pecos. That is just how you do it. Good Day.

So this "simple" mistake is gonna cost me like a hundred bucks... Yikes.

That is, I PRESUME I can rent a good (gas-powered) pressure washer for less than a hundred bucks.

The damaged area is less than one square yard... What's the downside to not using a power washer? Is the worst that will happen be that it doesn't adhere properly, and I have to do it again? Or could it actually make the concrete WORSE?

(I know no one likes to cut corners going into a project, but it IS a small area...)

Thanks for your help.

With overlay products, surface prep is EVERYTHING! You may be able to do it without the pressure washer, but if you do, you need to scrub it very hard with a stiff brush as you flood it with a hose. If no pressure washer, definitely do the acid wash/neutralize. Be as aggressive as possible. I must say though, that if you don't resurface the entire slab, the patch will look completely different from the rest of it. For one, it will be much darker. Secondly, the texture will be different. If the whole thing isn't done, it will always look like a patch job.
Sorry!

I was afraid you were going to say that.

I'm on the road, and apparrently this weekend it's only going up to the 40's, so I won't be doing anything, anyway.

I may post a picture and get some advice from y'all on how to proceed to make it look best.

Thanks

I would be very surprised if you could get it done for $100. You have to count labor also to be correct. This is not a 5 minute job. Re-surfacing concrete is a hard job and will take some time. this is an excellent example for other readers as to what happens when you do not seal new concrete.
Your lucky you don't have 3 feet of sidewalk to redo. If you do not scrub it good or neutrilize the acid, it will just keep eating your concrete. Sorry about your problem.