Q: Is there a material I can use to repair concrete that has pitted and flaked? My steps were poured just before a rain, which dripped on them. The concrete quickly flaked away, forming large and ugly spots on the treads and the edges. It’s been a couple of years, so certainly the steps must be ready for repair by now. I’d like to do something that looks good and doesn’t really look like a patch job.

A: It sounds to me as if just a repair won’t do it. I’ve tried similar repairs through the years with a variety of products, and although the fixes have looked OK for a little while, they have not endured.

It’s like patching a roof that really should be replaced — you’re simply delaying the inevitable. I’d suggest tearing the steps out and starting over.