# Concrete help **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-help/354194 "2006-04-25T20:01:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-help/354194/1 "2006-04-25T20:01:15Z")
My 100 year old house has a nice thick poured concrete foundation. The surface, though, is heavily spalled. In places, about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch has softened and crumbled off. What’s left is pretty sturdy, but is ugly and dirty. Is there anything a do it yourselfer can do to clean it up, harden the remaining concrete to prevent further damage, and put a smooth finish coat back on? ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-help/354194/2 "2006-04-25T20:36:51Z")
I’m not an expert on foundation repair but I am a civil engineer. Concrete, if mixed properly, should continue to harden for the rest of its existence, approaching an upper boundry. If the concrete is soft and spalling, it was probably a bad mix made with too much water. Or the rebar could be rusting and pushing off the surface. I’d get it inspected by a foundation guy. If the remaining concrete is good, there’s not reason it couldn’t be patched. I did find this [government page](http://www.nps.gov/goga/history/seaforts/chap9&10/concrete.htm) on seafort preservation, oddly enough, that has a littel section on spalling repair. I’m sure there’s more out there too… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-help/354194/3 "2006-04-25T20:39:07Z")
There are a variety of self-leveling compounds on the market that could fix your problem. Check with a self-help store. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-help/354194/4 "2006-04-26T02:41:36Z")
[Both Thoro](http://www.chemrex.com/productsearch/specificbrand.asp?brandID=62) and [Conproco](http://www.conproco.com/) offer many products for repair and rehabilitation of cementitious surfaces. Find a local supplier and spend time to describe your problem. They should be able to point you in the right direction.