Concrete Resurfacing Cost Calculator

Concrete resurfacing cost: the quick math

This concrete resurfacing cost calculator multiplies slab length × width to get square feet, then applies two rates: total cost = area × material rate + area × labor rate. With the defaults, a 20 × 20 ft slab is 400 sq ft, so $2 material + $3 labor per sq ft comes to $800 + $1,200 = $2,000.

Both rates are editable. Use the figures from your installer’s quote, or test what happens if you choose a decorative finish instead of a plain one.

What each rate covers

Material is the overlay product itself, plus any bonding primer, color, and sealer. A plain gray skim coat uses less product than a thicker stamped overlay.

Labor covers cleaning and profiling the old surface, filling cracks, mixing and spreading the overlay, finishing it, and sealing. Prep often takes as long as the overlay itself, because a thin coat only bonds to clean, rough, sound concrete.

Because both rates are per square foot, the total grows in direct step with area. Double the slab and you double the bill. Small jobs are the exception: many contractors set a minimum charge, so a 60 sq ft stoop can cost more per square foot than a 600 sq ft patio. Ask about minimums when you collect quotes.

Worked examples

1. The default patio: 20 ft × 20 ft

• Area: 20 × 20 = 400 sq ft
• Material: 400 × $2 = $800
• Labor: 400 × $3 = $1,200
• Total: $2,000

2. Two-car garage floor: 24 ft × 24 ft, same rates

• Area: 576 sq ft
• Material: $1,152, labor: $1,728
• Total: $2,880

3. Front walk with a decorative finish: 40 ft × 10 ft at $3 material and $4 labor

• Area: 400 sq ft
• Material: $1,200, labor: $1,600
• Total: $2,800

The walk in example 3 has the same area as the patio in example 1. The decorative finish alone adds $800.

Resurfacing options compared

Finish	Overlay thickness	Relative cost	Good for
Skim coat / broom finish	Thin, about 1/8 in	Lowest	Worn or scaled driveways and walks
Spray-down texture	Thin	Low to moderate	Pool decks, patios needing grip
Stamped overlay	Thicker, up to about 1/2 in	Higher	Patios that should look like stone or brick
Stained or dyed overlay	Thin	Moderate	Indoor floors, patios
Self-leveling underlayment	Varies	Moderate	Uneven interior floors before tile or vinyl

Resurface, repair, or replace?

Slab condition	Usual approach
Surface scaling, pitting, stains	Resurface
Hairline cracks that don’t move	Fill cracks, then resurface
Cracks with one side higher	Level or repair first; resurfacing alone will fail
Sunken sections	Slab lifting or partial replacement
Crumbling throughout, or heaving	Replace

How to measure

• Measure each slab section and add the areas. Patios with steps or landings are easiest as separate rectangles.
• Include steps. Add the top of each tread and the face of each riser, since the overlay covers both.
• Subtract large cut-outs, like a planter bed, but not small ones such as drains.
• Note the condition. Write down crack locations and widths so contractors quote the same prep.

Mistakes to avoid

• Skipping surface prep. Overlays peel when the old slab is sealed, oily, or smooth. Pressure washing alone is often not enough; many products call for grinding or acid etching.
• Covering control joints. Joints in the old slab must be carried up through the overlay, or the overlay will crack along them.
• Working in the wrong weather. Hot sun and freezing nights both hurt a thin overlay. Follow the product’s temperature limits.
• Forgetting the sealer. Most overlays need a sealer, and resealing over time, to resist stains and wear.

For a full replacement price, use the concrete slab cost calculator. For a patterned finish on new concrete, see the stamped concrete cost calculator. Garage floors can also take a coating; compare with the epoxy flooring cost calculator.

Estimates only. Real costs depend on region, slab condition, prep, and finish. Get written quotes before you budget.