[Closed] Reparing damaged concrete

I'd use mortar if I had it.

And probably two part filler or filler if i didn't have a use for mortar.

you don't need concrete. the dowel idea sounds okay but just wrap it in clingfilm and let it cure then pull the dowel out and then the cligfilm.

or take the opprtunity to put a threaded insert in for a better soution than an explandimg bolt arrangement i assume you are currently using

Cheers for the reply

The hole has been drilled for a monkey tail bolt thats attached to a garden gate, so really need to fix the hole by making it more square

Once the gate is bolted its secure with no movement, just the hole looks messy!!!

I think to get it neat neat, you could drill out a big circular core, refill it completely with concrete, then drill a new smaller hole for your bolt when it's dried.

If that's too much faff, I think what you've described is as good an idea as any, but it sounds like quite a small area you need to fill, in which case the poscrete/mortar/whatever you use might just crack.

ah sorry I was thinking threaded bolt 😀

Can you not get a keep for it? a stainless steel plate with a square hole? even better would be a square tube set in the concrete

Edges are always going to be fragile with concrete or mortar.

YEah finbar idea is a good one. make a bigger hole put a square tube over the bolt and locate everything how you want it. then pack in ready mixed concrete tampint down with something.

that way you get ta resilient square hole in EXACTLY the right place you need it, and leave th emetal with a slight upstand to stop junk falling in

Postcrete, or any concrete mix, will have gravel in it. Typically, if it has 10mm gravel, it won't work for filling less than 20mm gap, and I'm guessing your gap is smaller than that. So I'd use an epoxy mortar, which will bond better anyway. Something like this, but you may find something similar in a local DiY. You won't need much so no point getting something in a big tub. Get the hole as clean as possible, eg, scrape the sides and ideally blow the dust out, if you have a compressor, or wash it out and poke rags in to dry it. The epoxy I linked is OK if it's damp, check the instructions.

Can you not get a keep for it? a stainless steel plate with a square hole? even better would be a square tube set in the concrete

There is a keep fitted, the concrete has been drilled so badly the two rear screw holes have no concrete below them and you can see the hole at the back of the keep as its so big!

So I’d use an epoxy mortar

Something like this?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-kem-psc-380-ef-polyester-resin-380ml/1245j

If the holes too big for the epoxy filler, this stuff sets pretty hard and smooth:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/toupret-touprelith-f-exterior-masonry-repair-filler-1-5kg/7626h

Used it to repair the render on some window sills, bonds very well even to dusty surfaces and rock solid once dried.

Just bury a bit of near bolt diameter pipe in and fill round with mortar? Would stop it cracking in.

Cheers for the replies

I will look at getting some epoxy filler this week

While we are at it, yesterday I noticed the gates hinges have been mounted into the garden's brick wall using screws and rawl plugs

I've no idea when this was done (it's my mum's gate and she only moved in 6 months ago)

I don't trust them to hold the gate securely so would ideally like to replace them with something stronger

It's a large wrought-iron gate so i was thinking of using expanding wall bolts but she said she wants it so the gate can't be unbolted from the outside (I can't mount the hinges on the inside as the gates need to open outwards)

Would mushroom head type coach bolts work? Would they be strong enough?

Was thinking to drill right through the brick wall, then mount the gate with the coach bolts then use a metal plate on the back of the brick wall to spread the load then fit a washer and nut

You need a resin mortar, like Dovebiker linked, the one you linked is for glueing threaded rod into holes (eg, to hang a gate when the bricks might split if you you an expanding anchor).

For making the gate secure, use either a socket anchor and security bolts (special head the normal spanners don't fit, or an Allen head and fill the recess) or a projecting stud with shear nuts (the hex bit breaks off once it's tight).

It’s a large wrought-iron gate so i was thinking of using expanding wall bolts but she said she wants it so the gate can’t be unbolted from the outside (I can’t mount the hinges on the inside as the gates need to open outwards)

If the hinges are on the inside or outside of the wall the screws will be in sheer so should be absolutely fine. Expanding bolts could well split the brick as already stated.
Personally I'd leave it well alone and see what happens - if they start to pull out then you can look at options.
.... and why do you think someone would unbolt the gates?

Once the gate is bolted its secure with no movement, just the hole looks messy!!!

A bolt in a concrete base that's outside? You sound bored!

epoxy mortar. Fantastic stuff. Get a bit of threaded rod and expoxy that into the hole, then add a nut on the top once its gone off.

@ecrs - Would not even think about expanding bolts or drilling through to be honest, if it blows the bricks it could mean a much bigger job. A lot of people use epoxy fixed studs on gates to stop the expansion damage risk.

Sharkbait suggesting a wait and see approach is sensible. If security is a concern, how about removing one screw per hinge to ensure they are not undersized and replacing with a security screw or drilling/filling the head?

Prevents it being simply unscrewed, but not a complete nightmare to remove if you need to in the future with a Dremel cutting disc etc.

Lol not bored, just have a fussy 72 year old mother who wants her garden gate looking perfect

Also gives me an excuse to pop round and see how she's doing without her thinking I'm checking up on her😉