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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.
Can you sand concrete with a palm sander?
If you only have a small area to sand, you can also use a palm sander, orbital sander or belt sander. Rough imperfections may require the use of a special diamond disc and a concrete floor grinder.
How do you make concrete smooth?
If the concrete floor is sloped, self leveling cement can be applied to make the surface even. Ardex or other similar self leveling cementitous mixes can be applied and poured on to the surface and then ground afterwords just like regular concrete to get a smooth shine.
What kind of sander do I need for concrete floor?
If your floor is going to be fully exposed after sanding, use an orbital sander. It can be sanded with wet or dry sandpaper, but it’ll take a long time and not produce the desired results perfectly. If you have the right knowledge to do the job, you may source a grinder or sander from a DIY shop.
Can I use an orbital sander to polish concrete?
The best and easiest way to sand concrete would be with a random orbital sander. This is because you can easily control the motion left to right or back and forth, whereas using a traditional palm sander, you’ll have to use different strokes for this motion.
How do you fix rough concrete?
Fill the damaged areas with epoxy resin to the surface level of the surrounding concrete floor. Use a putty knife to fill the crack or hole in the concrete, and then level the top of the resin with the floor using the knife. Allow the patch to dry overnight.
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.
Can I sand concrete instead of etching?
Yes, you will need to grind in order to remove the sealer at the surface and provide a proper profile for the coating. You cannot acid etch. The reason is that the sealer prevents the acid from reacting with the minerals in the concrete since the concrete is sealed.
Will a floor sander work on concrete?
Sanding with Power Tools If you are sanding an entire concrete floor, look for something larger. For wide floor spaces, use a floor sander – also known as a drum sander or a concrete grinder. These can be operated standing up. These typically can attach to a vacuum for mid-project cleaning.
How do you smooth rough concrete?
To smooth a rough concrete slab, you will need to brush off all debris with a broom, then wash away the grime with a mop using neutral cleaner and warm water. Next, you will want to identify the areas with cracks or misshapen areas.
How do you hand polish concrete?
Put on protective eyewear to avoid particles damaging your eyes. Turn on the handheld grinder and lower slowly to the concrete. Grind it in using a back and forth and up and down motion. Polish the entire surface until the shine is visible.
How can I grind concrete without dust?
If no dust extraction is available for drilling or grinding, running a water hose onto the surface or holding a vacuum up to the tool will keep dust down. Use a drill dust attachment by turning the vacuum on and sticking the attachment to the surface. The suction from the vacuum should hold it in place.
Can you wet sand concrete?
Concrete polishing is a method of making concrete smooth and with a pleasant finish in a similar way that wood is sanded. Concrete can be polished using either a wet or dry method.
How hard is it to grind concrete?
Any pre-existing concrete can be ground down and smoothed with the right devices and skills. But, the ease and difficulty of the concrete grinding can vary depending on how old the slab is. In general, older concrete is much easier to grind.
How much can a concrete grinder remove?
On average, using concrete grinders will remove around 1/16 of an inch in one pass. You need to be diligent and patient in eliminating several layers of concrete and adhesives. Concrete grinding is a slow but valuable process to have in your repertoire!Feb 25, 2021.
How do I get a smooth finish with quikrete?
Add concrete to any low areas and screed level. Once the concrete has lost its sheen, smooth the concrete surface using a wood float in an arching motion. NOTE: use a stiff-bristle broom to create a non-slip broom finish (all broom strokes should be made in the same direction).
Does vinegar etch concrete?
Etching – Vinegar’s ability to dissolve CaCO3 will dull your marble, travertine, concrete and terrazzo surfaces. It may “clean” the surface but it is also dissolving pits into the finish and effectively dulling it. This will affect marble, travertine, concrete and concrete terrazzo surfaces.
What happens if you don’t etch concrete before epoxy?
In Closing. New concrete must be etched before applying the epoxy. The smooth surface of unaltered concrete won’t bind with other materials, such as epoxy or paint. As a result, epoxy will peel and lift away, failing to adhere to the surface.
Can you paint concrete without etching?
Paint cannot adhere to concrete unless the concrete has been properly prepped, which includes etching. Etching works to roughen a smooth concrete surface. Concrete is a porous surface regardless of how smooth it is, but paint can stick to a rougher surface than a smooth one easier.
