Table of Contents
How do you make concrete smooth and shiny?
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.
How do you sponge finish concrete?
Another great way to achieve a brushed finish is to use a sponge, says Chris Sullivan, national technical director for QC Construction. “As the concrete achieves a certain hardness, you start applying water to the surface with a hose, and use the sponge to work away some of the cream, to get the desired effect.”.
How do you smooth a rough concrete patio?
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.
Can you smooth out concrete after it dries?
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.
When should you Powerfloat?
A rough guide for considering when to begin power floating is when walking on the surface leaves indentations of 3-4 mm. If the concrete is too wet the machine will tear up the surface, and if it is too dry, it will not be possible to trim high spots or fill low spots effectively.
What does a concrete resurfacer do?
General Information. QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer is a special blend of Portland cement, sand, polymer modifiers and other additives designed to provide a shrinkage compensated repair material for making thin repairs to sound concrete which is in need of surface renewal.
Can you sand rough concrete?
As mentioned above, while you can sand concrete with regular sandpaper this will take a long time. Instead, we would recommend diamond or coarse grit sandpaper. Particularly heavy-duty sandpaper, with a coarseness of 400 or higher would be the best option if you do not want to use diamond sandpaper.
Can you grind rough concrete smooth?
If you have any type of concrete surface, it can be smoothed with a concrete grinder to achieve the desired look using common concrete grinding techniques. It works on rough concrete surfaces, resulting in a smooth and stylish finish.
Can you use an orbital sander on concrete?
An orbital sander is the correct equipment to use when sanding concrete. You will want to have several different grit sizes of orbital sanding discs on hand. To remove only a small rough patch or uneven area, you can use 1000-grit automobile black sandpaper, which is very fine and will not remove much of the concrete.
What is the best way 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.
What is a concrete tamper?
Tampers (sometimes called Jitterbugs) push the coarse aggregate in the concrete below the concrete surface and consolidate the concrete.
What is the best resurfacing cement?
Our Top Picks Best For Interiors. Quikrete Fast-Setting Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer. Best for Exteriors. Rapid Set High Strength, 15 Min Set, Featheredge. Best For Cracks. KILZ Over Armor Textured Wood/Concrete Coating. Best For Flooring. Ardex Feather Finish Grey Self-Drying Cement. Best For Small Jobs. Best Premixed.
How long does a concrete resurfacer last?
Thanks to its durability, concrete resurfacing can last a long time. Considering it’s been properly installed, well cared for and the existing concrete base is strong. A properly resurfaced floor can last from 10-20+ years.
How thick should concrete resurfacer be?
1 Unlike other cement products, it is designed to be applied in very thin coats (no more than 1/2 inch thick), and its additives provide good adhesion to an existing slab. Concrete resurfacer is a very strong product, rated for compressive strength of about 4,500 psi.
How much does it cost to resurface concrete?
Nationally, the average cost for concrete resurfacing is $3 to $10 per square foot, depending on the condition of the original concrete and local labor costs. For smaller projects, some contractors charge a flat fee of at least $500 to $1,000. The new concrete must also be sealed, which costs $20 to $80 per gallon.
Can old concrete be resurfaced?
Concrete resurfacing is a way to make old concrete look new again. A concrete coating is applied over the existing surface, offering a variety of color, texture and pattern options. This type of decorative refinishing can be done on driveways, patios, pool decks and even indoor floors.
Can you put a thin layer of concrete over concrete?
How Thin Can You Pour Concrete Over Existing Concrete? The thinnest that is usually used when pouring concrete, in general, is about 2 to 2 ½ inches. That also applies to this pouring new concrete over old concrete. Any thinner than 2 inches would be too thin.
How do you stick new concrete to old concrete?
The most effective way to ensure a really good bond is with a scratch coat. This is simply a very wet coat made up by mixing the repair product with water. Mix up a small amount of the repair material to a soupy consistency. You don’t need to measure the water-just turn the stuff into slop.
Can I sand concrete instead of etching?
In our experience, the simple answer is no. While acid etching is better than doing nothing to profile the concrete, it simple does not work as well as a floor grind. There are a wide range of concrete types, varying in composition, hardness levels, and texture–meaning there isn’t a one size fits all solution.
