LESLIE: Gary in Utah has a question about a sidewalk that seems to be uneven. What’s going on with it?
GARY: I’m a handyman for a large property management company and I could usually figure out most things.
TOM: (overlapping voices) OK.
GARY: But on a lot of the properties that we manage, we have sidewalks that settle and there’s a trip hazard; people with wheelchairs. And in the past, what I usually do to remedy the problem is use like a vinyl concrete, you know? Sidewalks might have settled an inch-and-a-half.
TOM: Right.
GARY: And I use some vinyl concrete but it doesn’t usually last through the winter. It cracks and I’m just trying to figure out is there a solution for this without moving …
TOM: Yeah. Have you used an epoxy patching compound?
GARY: No, I haven’t.
TOM: Alright, go to the website for Abatron – A-b-a-t-r-o-n.
GARY: OK.
TOM: And they have a variety of products that are made for this and they can be used to restore damaged concrete or build up some low spots of concrete. And they’re epoxy-based and they adhere really well and they stand up to the freeze-thaw cycle, which is going to be real important, obviously, in your area of Utah.
GARY: Right.
TOM: And I think that’s what you’re doing. If you use simply concrete with a vinyl additive, it’s going to chip off and that’s kind of what you’re experiencing.
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Yeah, they won’t adhere to one another.
TOM: Yeah. They’re not very compatible.
GARY: (overlapping voices) Right, that’s what’s been happening.
TOM: Yeah, so do that. You’ll be able to do it once. The material itself is going to be more expensive but it’s going to be more of a permanent repair.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm.
GARY: Right. OK. That is great. Great information.
TOM: You got it.
GARY: And I’m going to give it a try.
TOM: Alright, Gary. Good luck with that project.
GARY: Thank you. Thank you so much.
TOM: Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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