Mortar screed on concrete steps - Painting over mortar on concrete steps.

[rigger]

Hi,
After chipping off old and broken quarry tiles from exterior seldom used concrete steps I applied a thin mortar screed with a view to painting the steps. However although the mortar screed has set hard and looks sound I am worried that during the winter when frost and ice forms on the steps the mortar will crack and break away. Can anyone recommend a product that could seal or harden the mortar before painting.

Thanks for any help.

[mark_buildnrepair]

A waterproof screed would have been the way to go, but now that you've laid your screed you're stuck with it.

Most waterproofing coatings will degrade if subjected to constant traffic. So how about fixing a preformed stair tread/nosing like this.....Stair Tread?

Call Ronacrete for more information. 01279 638700.

[rigger]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the reply. As you say I am now stuck with it so I have gone ahead and done the paint job anyway. I have given the stairs a primer and three top coats of masonary weathershield paint and as I write they look good and sound. However the winter will be the test so I have saved the link you sent me and may well consider your suggestion if the screed fails.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Rigger.

[seanandruby]

Can you elaborate on 'thin mortar screed?' There is specialist material for thin coatings, such as ronacrete. I'm afraid you are on a loser with ordinary sand and cement.

[rigger]

Hi Sean, thanks for your input, I did try and find a product that I could use but to no avail. I eventually settled for a mix in the tub concrete repair product from Wickes. The screed that I applied is only about 6mm to 10mm thick. You are probably right about me being on a loser but now I will just have to wait and see what happens when the ice and snow do their worse. I have now had a look at ronacrete on their website and only wish that I had seen this product before. However as my screed is only thin I am hoping that I will be able to remove it back to the concrete if it fails during the winter and have another go with ronacrete.

Thanks again and best regards,
Rigger.