Disclosure: This video and article contains a paid product integration by ZEP USA. All views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Cleaning the Chipped Area

This chip is a medium sized chip and is about 6” wide, and about an inch deep.
So the first thing we need to do is clean out the chip of any debris or loose chunks. Start by breaking out the loose chunks with a chisel or other tool like a screwdriver.

Once you have any loose chunks removed, use a wire brush to loosen up any debris and dirt that have built up over time. Getting the surface of the chipped out area clean is the most important part of this project. You need to make sure your new patch can firmly adhere to the old concrete.

Once you have the loose material removed from the chip, you’ll need to use a concrete cleaning product like Zep’s Driveway and Concrete Pressure Wash Concentrate.

This Concrete and Driveway cleaner is perfect for this application because it is a concentrated concrete cleaner that easily removes tire marks, dirt, grease, and oil from any concrete, brick, or asphalt surfaces. For a small chip, you can apply a small amount of the concentrated cleaner to a container of water at the mixture indicated on the bottle. Or you can do what I did and take the opportunity to add a diluted mixture to a pressure washer and just clean your whole driveway. Pay careful attention to the chipped out areas and make sure you thoroughly clean them.

Apply Concrete Patching

Once the chipped out area has had some time to dry, next you’ll need to get a small
amount of a concrete vinyl patching compound like this one. These are available off the shelf at your local big box store and are super easy to use. Simply add a small
amount of water to the powdered mixture. Then mix it up until you have a peanut
butter like consistency, and apply it to the chipped out area with a masonry or
disposable trowel.

You can feather out the surrounding area to match the existing
concrete. For corner chips or areas next to expansion joints, you may have to take a little extra time to form the patch to follow the existing contours. Once the compound has set up for about 20 minutes, use a grouting sponge and some water to clean any excess patching compound from around the patched area and create a seamless patch. For deep or large chips, you may have to apply several coats of the patching
compound to fill the void. And if the area around your chip is heaved, you may need
to do some additional steps of flattening that area using an angle grinder and a diamond grinding wheel.

So that’s it for this episode of Home School’d. I hope you guys enjoyed it and I hope
you learned something. If you’re interested in purchasing any of the products I used
in this video, links to all the tools and materials can be found in the description
below. I also have tips on how to fix a crack in concrete, so check that out here.

Thank you guys so much for checking out this post. For more outdoor projects, click on some of the links below.

DIY Paver Walkway Install

Find the Right Pressure Washer for you!

https://pressurewashr.com/

DIY home electrical work is one of those things many homeowners shy away from and it can be a little bit dangerous if you don’t have a little bit of knowledge, but I’m here to show you the 5 tools I think every homeowner should own that can tackle many common electrical issues around the home and save you from making expensive calls to an electrician. If you’re new to home electrical projects, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with some basic tutorials here.

Before I get started I just want to say that any time you’re working on any electrical project in your home. make sure to turn the power off at the breaker to the area or room you’re working in to make sure that you are working safely and that you or someone else will not get hurt.

So with that said, let’s dive into our list.

#5.) Screwdrivers (flat & phillips)

I’m sure most homeowners already have at least A screwdriver lying around the house, and if not, you should definitely get yourself a set. For electrical projects, you’ll need at least a screwdriver with an interchangeable tip, or both a Phillips head and flat head. Many old receptacles have strictly flat head screws; while newer fixtures typically have Phillips or a combination. Having both types on hand ensures that you’re prepared for any situation.

#4.) Razor Blade and Electrical Tape

I know they’re technically two tools but I hardly classify tape as a tool by itself so I figured I’d lump it together with another smaller tool. These two tools are a constant when working on any electrical project. A razor blade is great for cutting the casing on modern Romex wiring and electrical tape is good for a few reasons. #1) I like to use it to wrap terminal heads to protect from a shock in the event someone tries to pull out a receptacle with the power on. #2) It can also be used to indicate a hot wire in an instance where the wire’s coloring may indicate otherwise.

#3.) Receptacle Circuit Tester

This plug in tool is an easy way to diagnose wiring mistakes when it comes to receptacles. The lights on the tool show you if an error is present and tell you what the problem is so you can fix it. It also tells you when a receptacle is wired correctly.

#2.) Wire Strippers

These are cheap and very handy tools to have on hand for any DIY wiring project. They have cutouts for the various gauge wiring you’re working with. Most residential wiring is either 12 gauge or 14 gauge wiring. I use a pair of these on ever single electrical project I tackle so they’re essential to have in your tool pouch.

#1.) Voltage Detector

The #1 tool on my list is both a safety tool and a diagnostic tool and is the 1^st tool I reach for in any electrical project and that is a Voltage detector. This little pen-like tool is a must have for any homeowner because it alerts you when any voltage is present. After I turn the power off at the breaker before I start a project, I always follow that up by verifying that the power is off with this tool. Any voltage that is present will make the tool light up and beep so you know if the power is in fact off.

Also, this tool can be really helpful for diagnosing old or mislabeled wiring as you can move it around to find out which wire is hot and which is neutral. The power needs to be on at the breaker for this to work so if you’re troubleshooting wiring, be extra careful.

So that’s it for this Top 5 DIY list. You can grab all these tools for less than $100 which is less than you’d pay an electrician to come out for a single visit and with them you can tackle a tremendous amount of household electrical issues.

If you liked this content, check out more like it here:

Top 5 DIY Plumbing Tools

How to Increase the Value of Your Home