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- 1). Use a stiff-bristled push broom to remove any dirt from the floor, clearing as much dirt as possible from the small crevices between the pebbles embedded in the epoxy for a clear look at the flooring material. Pry away any baseboard or trim surrounding the flooring with a pry bar, pulling the boards from the walls by prying at each nail location. Cover the doors and vents leading into the structure with plastic sheeting taped with masking tape.
- 2). Examine the epoxy and gravel flooring. Look for any cracks in the material to use to pry it from the patio slab beneath it. If you can't find an existing crack, then begin lifting the flooring from the edge of the material.
- 3). Place the tip of a chisel into the crack, or along the edge of the patio flooring material. Tilt the chisel until it's at a 45-degree angle to the surface of the epoxy flooring. Strike the head of the chisel with a mallet, breaking through the layer of epoxy until you hit the concrete slab beneath. Expand the initial break in the flooring until you have a break approximately 12 inches wide.
- 4). Replace the chisel blade in the extended crack with the blade of a floor scraper. Push the floor scraper beneath the epoxy flooring, along the concrete slab to break the bond between the flooring and the slab. Move the scraper in tiny back and forth motions to help move it along and then pull up any flooring as you go. Use a hammer to break up pieces of flooring that prove difficult to remove, cracking it into smaller pieces and use the scraper to wedge up from the surface of the patio slab. Continue until you've cleared the entire patio surface.
- 5). Sweep up the debris left on the slab. Brush the cleared slab with an adhesive stripper, brushing the stripper on with a paintbrush. Wait about 15 minutes for the stripper to penetrate the adhesive and then use the floor scrapper to scrape the soft adhesive from the slab. Clean off the stripper residue with a mop and soapy water. Rinse the slab with clean water. Allow the concrete to dry out between three and five hours.
- 6). Line the patio with a 2-by-4 concrete form. Cut the 2-by-4s to fit the patio perimeter with a circular saw, and then nail them together using a hammer to form a frame around the slab. Place wooden stakes into the ground every three feet outside the frame and nail the stakes to the form to hold it in place.
- 7). Cover the surface of the slab with a layer of bonding adhesive to help the new concrete bond with the old slab. Spread the adhesive with a squeegee then wait for it to dry slightly, you want it sticky, but not wet.
- 8). Combine the concrete overlay mixture and water in a large bucket, following the manufacturer's instructions as to how much water to add. Use an electric drill with a mixer bit attached to get a smooth mixture easy to pour.
- 9). Pour the overlay onto the patio, spreading the mix with a trowel to a depth of about 1/4 to 1/2-inch above the slab. Run a wood float over the concrete to draw moisture to the top and settle the aggregate evenly throughout. Wait for the water to disappear back into the concrete before stamping the surface.
- 10
Cover the new overlay with a concrete release agent to prevent the concrete stamps from sticking to the material. Place the first stamp into the corner of the slab and press down on it with moderate force to transfer the impression from the stamp to the overlay. - 11
Pull the stamp from the overlay, taking care not to move it in place, to avoid smearing the stamp. Place the next stamp in the pattern next to the first impression and press downward to stamp that image into the overlay. Continue the stamping process until you cover the entire overlay with the desired pattern. Allow the overlay material to cure for the length of time suggested by the manufacturer. - 12
Remove the frame surrounding the new patio surface. Use a garden hose to wash any remaining trace of the release agent from the patio after fully dry. Spray the surface of the patio with a concrete sealer to protect the surface from staining, and then wait 48 hours drying time before putting the patio to use.
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