Suggestions for crumbled concrete walkway

Leah Wynne
by Leah Wynne
Hey everyone....I'm hoping to tap into your creative side and get some out of the box suggestions on how to make my back patio area look better. We're not ready to rip out and replace the concrete yet as we may be building a deck out the back. But I am ready for this to stop looking so bad.

We are taking out the bricks, and we are placing crushed stone on the door side of the walkway. But there's still a ton of mismatched, crumbly concrete. I'm thinking of painting it all a base colour and then either painting the cracks to look like vines....I found one picture on google like that....or, I was thinking about filling the cracks with some of the coloured crushed rock, or small pebbles or gemstones or something. That's all I can think of. Does anyone else have any other ideas?
  8 answers
  • Roland Ronish Roland Ronish on Apr 21, 2017

    The only real way to fix it is to dig it out and replace it. The original concrete is of poor, aka cheap, concrete and anything you do to "fix" the problem wont work as the weak concrete is going to keep crumbling, I'm 76 and been in the business a long time. When concrete is mixed too thin for easy working, this happens.

  • Tammy Maas Tammy Maas on Apr 21, 2017

    Hi Leah! I love your idea with the painted vines but I would hate for you to waste your time & effort if it's going to be tore up eventually. Maybe you could buy a colorful outdoor rug to cover the space. Add some colorful flower pots & some chairs and you would have an amazing space. Good luck!

  • Anthony Anthony on Apr 21, 2017

    Maybe plant some moss or succulents in the cracks to make a more "natural" walkway. Ask your local nursery which are best for your area. There are quite a few that are resilient enough to walk on.

  • Gail Gail on Apr 21, 2017

    Sometimes you just have to replace things. It will be a job but, you will really enjoy a new safe walk way. Please remember to remove roots if you do it your self, they will destroy concrete.

  • Barbara Lynn Vaughan Barbara Lynn Vaughan on Apr 21, 2017

    use some clear silicone and some different colored crushed glass (think old beer bottles or wine bottles). It will add sparkle and color


  • Leah Wynne Leah Wynne on Apr 21, 2017

    Thanks for the suggestions guys....I never thought about the rug! I like the idea of the moss or succulents and crushed glass too.

    • Mur11895127 Mur11895127 on Apr 21, 2017

      Rugs are inexpensive and can be changed easily! I've used the 5x7 but notice they also come in larger sizes.

  • Angela Ley Angela Ley on Apr 27, 2017

    there are a number of companies that have roll on texture paint for walkways. If you want to get really creative, you can tape off with painters tape and make like tiles.