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For this, you need to put a small amount of elbow grease on the area and sprinkle baking soda over it. Then use a damp cloth to rub around the area to make the area smooth and shiny again. Most of the time, you will be needing to follow this technique to make the concrete surface look shiny and smooth.
What can I use to smooth a concrete floor?
Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface. If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish.
Can I polish an existing concrete floor?
Almost any structurally sound concrete floor, whether new or old, can be polished. Some retail and warehouses facilities that plan to polish their floors after placement may specify a floor that is as smooth as possible to minimise the polishing steps required.
Can I polish concrete floor myself?
Polishing concrete is not an easy DIY project, since it requires heavy equipment and special diamond tooling. We recommend hiring a professional concrete polishing contractor to complete your project.
How do you smooth out old concrete?
Apply wet concrete resurfacer on top of old concrete to create a smooth overlay that gives your patio a fresh, new look. Scrub the concrete with an eco-friendly concrete cleaner and a scrub brush. Equip a drill with a paddle mixer bit. Re-wet the concrete if it has dried.
Should you wet concrete while curing?
ANSWER: Keeping concrete moist helps the curing process. If too much water is lost from the concrete through evaporation, the hardening process slows down or ceases. Concrete continues to gain strength after pouring for as long as it retains moisture, but the longer it moist-cures, the slower the rate of strength gain.
What do I use to sand concrete?
For basic sanding, use sandpaper with the grit between 40-60. To remove minor irregularities, use 80-120 grit sandpaper. For perfect finish and smoothness, use superfine sandpaper with grit ranging between 200-400. If there are severe imperfections, then you need to use a floor grinder or special diamond disc.
How much does it cost to polish existing concrete floors?
Most subflooring is concrete, and polishing this existing material is much cheaper than having to lay a new slab. On average, the cost per square foot to polish existing concrete floors is anywhere between $2 and $15, based on data from ImproveNet.
How can I make my concrete floor glossy?
There are a number of ways to do this, but using a glossy sealer can give your floor an attractive, polished appearance. Clean the floor. Select a sealer. Mix the sealer thoroughly; an electric paint mixer is the best strategy, but you can mix by hand, as well. Pour some sealer into a paint tray.
Is it expensive to polish concrete?
Concrete polishing can cost from $50 – $100 per square metre, depending on the method used. To begin, basic polishing starts at an average cost of $50 per square metre for the grind and seal method. The honed polishing method is on average around $75 per square metre.
What tools do you need to polish concrete?
What You’ll Need To Polish Concrete Countertops Wet or Dry Concrete Polisher. Diamond Hand Polishing Pads. Wet Polishing System. Wet/Dry Polishing Pads. 5″ Rigid Hook and Loop Backer Pad. 5″ Flexible Hook and Loop Backer Pad.
How do I clean concrete?
Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), and add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Spray the mixture on your concrete surface and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse your concrete.
Is polished concrete slippery?
While highly polished concrete looks great, the downside is that it can be slippery when wet. This means that while you’re free to choose the desired level of aggregate exposure for you outdoor surfaces, honed concrete for outdoor use can’t be highly polished and is only available in a matte finish.
How do you smooth out a broom on concrete?
There are two things you can do fix the rough finish. One is, you could grind or polish the surface which would remove the rough broom finish and smooth the surface of the concrete. Some of the aggregate would be exposed giving you a nice smooth decorative look to your sidewalk and patio.
Can you concrete over old concrete?
You can put new concrete over old concrete. However, unresolved issues with your old concrete, such as cracks or frost heaves, will carry over to your new concrete if not taken care of. In addition, you must pour it at least 2 inches thick.
Does spraying water on concrete help it cure?
Spraying water on your new concrete is one of the best and oldest ways to cure your concrete. After new concrete is poured and finished the concrete begins its curing process. Spraying water on the surface prevents the surface of the concrete slab from drying faster than the bottom.
How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?
Concrete typically takes 24 to 48 hours to dry enough for you to walk or drive on it. However, concrete drying is a continuous and fluid event, and usually reaches its full effective strength after about 28 days.
Does concrete take 100 years to cure?
Does concrete take 100 years to cure? No, this is a bit of a myth with the concrete industry. While concrete does continue to harden indefinitely, pore moisture has to drop below a certain level at some point and this isn’t typically 100 years.
Can concrete be poured over sand?
Because concrete slabs “float” on the soil, soft ground or voids underneath may cause unsupported areas to crack under heavy weight like vehicles. of sand or gravel over clay and other poorly draining soils to provide even support.
Can you use a drum sander on concrete?
You will get on hands and knees to work this sander across the floor. This type of sander is great for smaller jobs or for projects that require you to have a lot of control. You may choose to use both types of sanders for your project. A drum sander can quickly sand the large portions of the room.
What is the correct mix for concrete?
In terms of the ratio for concrete, it depends on what strength you are trying to achieve, but as a general guide a standard concrete mix would be 1 part cement to 2 parts sand to 4 parts aggregates. For foundations, a mix of 1 part cement to 3 parts sand to 6 parts aggregates can be used.
