What It Is Like to Have Your Concrete Repaired by Us
Working with us starts with photos and ends with a recoloured surface, and in between there are four visible stages: cleaning, repairs, edge cut-in and two coats of colour. You can arrange everything in English, from abroad if necessary. This article walks through the real process using the photos from our Marbella imprinted driveway job, with no reviews or quotes, just what happens.
Send us a photo and the m²How does the first contact work?
You send us photos of the damage, one wide shot of the whole area, the approximate square metres and the town, through the contact form or WhatsApp on 613 656 443. You can write in English.
We look at the photos for two things: what needs repairing, and whether there is any sign of movement. If there is, we tell you to speak to an engineer before going further; if not, we explain what the job involves and send a quote.
Questions we often ask at this stage are simple: has any crack grown, does any part of the slab rock or sound hollow, and is there an old coating that is peeling?
What happens on the first day on site?
The whole area is pressure cleaned. On the Marbella job, that meant the driveway, the carport under the pergola and the garage apron, washed until dirt and loose material were gone.
Cleaning often reveals cracks and weak spots that were hidden under dirt. If anything changes the scope of the job, we tell you before carrying on.
How are the repairs carried out?
Once the surface is clean and dry enough for the repair material, cracks are opened and filled, chipped areas rebuilt and joints restored. Edges that should stay clean are masked.
In Marbella, the cracks running through the driveway were filled at this stage, before any colour. You can see the filled lines in the overview photo, ready for coating. The way we handle different defects is explained on our crack repair and expansion joint repair pages.
Why is the edge work done before the main colour?
Because a roller cannot reach neatly into corners and along walls and posts. The borders are cut in by brush first, so that the main surface can then be rolled quickly up to a clean line.
On the Marbella carport, this meant careful brush work around each pergola post and along the walls before the first strips of colour went down.
What do the two coats of colour look like going on?
The first coat goes on in strips across the faded surface, and the contrast between treated and untreated concrete is obvious straight away. The second coat gives depth and evens out the colour.
Between coats and before use, we follow the product data sheet for drying and traffic times, so you know in advance when the area can be walked and driven on.
What does the finished result look like?
In Marbella, the finished driveway runs from the gate to the carport in one dark, glossy, even tone, with the old patchiness gone. The full photo set is on our work page, and the method is described on imprinted concrete repair.
What do we ask of you during the job?
Very little, but it matters. The area needs to be clear of cars, furniture and plant pots, and we need access to the site and, ideally, a water point for the cleaning stage.
If the driveway is the only way in and out, plan where the cars will stay until the coating's data sheet allows traffic. In a gated urbanisation, let the gatehouse or community security know we are coming, according to the community's rules.
Finally, tell us who to contact if a question comes up on the day. When the owner is abroad, that is usually the property manager or key holder.
How does it work if you are not in Spain?
Exactly the same, except that access goes through your key holder, property manager or community gatekeeper. We agree dates by email or WhatsApp and can send photos at the main stages.
If you are weighing up whether to go ahead, our article on what owners wish they had known answers the questions that usually come up before booking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first step to getting my concrete repaired?
Send us photos of the damage, a wide shot of the whole area, the approximate square metres and the town, using the contact form or WhatsApp. We look at them and tell you whether it is a repair job, what it involves, and send a quote if it is something we do.
Do you visit before quoting?
Repair work can usually be quoted from good photos and the rough area. If something cannot be judged from the photos, such as how much old coating is loose, we tell you and arrange to see it. Anything that changes the scope on site is discussed with you before we carry on.
Can I communicate with you in English?
Yes. You can send photos, questions and access details in English by email or WhatsApp, and we reply in English. That makes it straightforward to arrange the job from abroad or to involve an English-speaking property manager. Quotes, dates and access arrangements can all be confirmed in writing.
In what order is the work done on site?
Always the same order: pressure cleaning of the whole area, repairs to cracks, holes, spalling and joints, brush cut-in along edges, then two coats of synthetic resin paint. Each stage prepares for the next, which is why the sequence never changes.
Will I see the cracks being repaired?
If you are on site, yes: the repairs are visible as filled lines and patches before any colour goes on, as in our Marbella photos. If you are away, we can send photos of this stage so you can see that the cracks were repaired and not simply painted over.
Do I need to be at home during the work?
No. The work can go ahead while you are away. We need access to the area and, ideally, to a water point for cleaning. Access can be arranged with your key holder, property manager or community security according to the community's rules.
When can I use the driveway again?
That depends on the products and the weather, and we follow the product data sheet rather than giving a set time. Before we start, we tell you when the area can be walked on and when vehicles can go back, so you can plan around it.
What do you need from me on the day?
A clear area, with cars, furniture and plant pots moved off the surface, and access to the site and a water point. If you are abroad, let us know who will handle access and who we can contact if anything comes up during the work.
What happens if you find more damage than expected?
We tell you before doing anything extra. Cleaning sometimes reveals cracks or weak spots that were hidden under dirt, and you decide whether to include them. If we see signs of movement, we stop and recommend an engineer rather than continuing with the surface.
Can you send photos of the finished job?
Yes, we can send photos of the finished surface and of the main stages. This is useful if you manage the property from abroad or need to show the result to a community administrator or other owners. They also serve as a simple record of what was done.
Is the Marbella job typical of your work?
It is our reference job and shows our standard sequence on an imprinted concrete driveway, carport and garage apron: cleaning, crack filling, edge cut-in and recolouring. Every surface is different, but the order and the approach are the same on every job.