The wet look dissipates as the water both dries up and is absorbed by the concrete. Scrub the concrete with an eco-friendly concrete cleaner and a scrub brush. The bull float is a flat, long-handled tool used to flatten minor ridges and holes, as well as embed aggregate particles further into the concrete, bringing the smoother "cream" consistency concrete to the surface for better finishing. A typical concrete slab costs $4 to $8 per square foot with most homeowners spending between $5.35 to $6.17 per square foot, or $113 to $126 per cubic yard for both materials and installation. So I am installing a custom tile shower in a basement bathroom. We welcome your comments and Drag the board slowly across the top of the wet concrete using the edge of the board. Roll the stripper on and leave it to work … After that, you need to let the concrete dry for a day. Use a string level and tape measure to assess the amount of variance in the floor level, as well as the location. How to Smooth Out Rough Concrete. The concrete needs to be leveled out before it solidifies. Concrete will remain somewhat fluid until it completely cures. Pack the fill solidly with a plate compactor. Concrete is a very forgiving substance. It should be placed on the thin end. Wear protective clothing and boots, use a muratic acid wash till you get the cement paste burned off and begin to see the sand in the concrete… With both products, be sure to keep wearing eye protection and gloves as well. Step 3. You can use a trowel to smooth over small areas or a screed board and bull float for large areas. We have a poured patio off the back of the house. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. I find grinding to be time-consuming and difficult, you need to rent equipment or contract it out, but much depends on what you hope to … If you have a mostly level surface with just a few minor holes and cracks, use an epoxy coating you can apply just like paint. All rights reserved. It almost hurt to walk on it barefoot. For a really smooth finish, repeat the troweling step two or three times, letting the concrete harden a bit between each pass. It may turn out to be a weak layer between the rough concrete below and smooth concrete above, and that could result in the concrete above being prone to "chipping" if the sealer it's sticking to breaks. Immediately level and prepare further using a bull float. Website operating Whether you have cracks, chips or just a stained concrete slab, Thinset helps cover the old surface and create a new problem-free area. The work may be challenging, but you can turn an uneven, damaged concrete floor into a smooth, level surface without the cost of a pro. The c... Smoothing and removing spilled concrete on driveway. Step 3 – Final Touches. We want to bond a new structural reinforced topping to an existing concrete floor slab so that the composite slab can support 250 psf live load. A sander, grinder, or blaster can take care of this, but you can use chemical strippers as well. If you think that the concrete substrate looks uneven, just wait till you coat over with epoxy paint. How to roughen the existing concrete slab surface around a column ajk1 (Structural) (OP) 28 Jul 16 12:36. I have seen people use brick in the ponds also. Work back and forth, passing over a little more of the rough concrete each time. We welcome your comments and That kind of pour is called a "cold joint". Once concrete is dry it is still pliable. If you use a wet-dry sandpaper, you can wet the area before you work to keep dust down. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. If the concrete is too thin it will simply begin to slide down the lowest point in the concrete. Leave a 12-in.- deep by 12-in.- wide trench … Next, measure the surface with your tape measure and jot these numbers down on a piece of paper. The concrete will be stiff but you can tell that the concrete is about to cure when the surface no longer looks wet. Check the plane of the floor using a leveling bar. Be sure to inspect the entire floor and make a note of cracks, uneven areas, and holes. Step 1 – Spread the Concrete. Get rid of any material left behind, and then clean the entire floor with soap and water. This will create blended edges that are crisp. How to Surface Rough Concrete Patios. Swirl finish is one of the most exceptional types of concrete finish that is generated by … I brought it up to the workers today and they told me it would smooth out with time. Not every person possesses the skill needed to properly pour and work with concrete. Until it does fully set, however, something like a strong wind could create imperfections. Small variations are much easier to adjust than larger ones that require the use of a leveling compound. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be To get the concrete smooth it has to also be level, which can also be a chore as it is not a slow process nor is it a clean one. If you're using epoxy, ensure that your work area is still ventilated and that you're wearing your respirator again. Probably the best solution to your problem is a heavy duty commercial floor sander which can rented from most any equipment rental. Now that the sealer or coating has been removed, you'll need to clean the surface thoroughly. Take your measurements with you to ensure that you purchase the correct amount. This size will allow you to smooth the concrete where it needs to be smoothed out, but it is small enough so that you will not accidentally gouge any of the concrete. Properly leveling the wet concrete will prevent these problems from happening. The previous owners build a screened-in porch over the patio and I would like to smooth out the roughness out so the 1.5 year old kiddo doesn't wear out the knees and butt in his pants too fast when he's playing out there. Smoothing out the concrete will also level and spread it out. Concrete floors are common fixtures inside of the garage, but with modern home designs becoming more and more appealing, they're slowly make their way inside. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Use a trowel to smooth out the concrete. The work may be challenging but you can turn an uneven damaged concrete floor into a smooth level surface without the cost of a pro Step 1 Move Furniture Start by removing everything from the room that covers floor space including furniture and area rugs and place it all in an adjacent room Some of the aggregate would be exposed giving you a nice smooth decorative look to your sidewalk and patio. Problem is that floor ti... How to repaint smoothly on a gloss rough surface... Hi guys so I bought a pretty beat up condo back on may and ive been doing a... Smoothing and removing spilled concrete on driveway. Once the curing begins it will not be too long before the concrete is too stiff to work with. At first, hold the trowel almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface. One is, you could grind or polish the surface which would remove the rough broom finish and smooth the surface of the concrete. Put the board at one of the ends of the fresh concrete. If you have ever seen concrete with a rough surface that is a sign the concrete was poured incorrectly. Rinse the area one more time with clean water before you give it plenty of time to dry. How to Use Thinset Morter to Resurface Concrete. If you have a mostly level surface with just a few minor holes and cracks, use an epoxy coating you can apply just like paint. Your final cost will depend on the slabs size, thickness, and if you any special reinforcement such as wire mesh or rebar. Using Glossy Concrete Stain on Concrete Patio. One solution is to use an epoxy filler to smooth out the surface. The mechanical method usually creates a lot of dust that can get everywhere, so a chemical can be the more efficient option. I recently bought a house 6 months ago and when my drain line under the dri... [left] i would like to fix these bricks so they are flat once again. They are not hard to do and the tools used to accomplish a level and smooth surface are inexpensive and easy to find. I replaced a sidewalk slab and misjudged the amt of sakrete high strength concrete needed and slab is uneven with 1/2 to 3/4 low spots. Follow the instructions on your product to apply it to the floor. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Ok so long story short. Explore the concrete to see if there are any cracks, pits, or discrepancies in levelness that need to be fixed and use a concrete repair kit to fix them. Can Concrete be Sanded? It was popcorn from the 80s, no asbestos. Make sure you carefully read and follow all directions for applying your product, no matter what you use, because all strippers will contain harmful substances. To avoid having rough concrete follow the simple steps below. This is still true to a great extant. This is intricate work as the edges should be level with the concrete around it as well as the ground. Copyright© A float leaves a better finish than a 2 x 4, usually used by non-professionals for this task. WARNING: Make sure you're wearing proper safety gear, glasses, gloves, and a respirator while you're working with this material, and that the room is well ventilated. Do not let the slurry dry on the concrete because it … Looks like hell- neighbors are laughing at the "great job" I did and wife is double mad at me. Sometime the surface is either too smooth or too rough and needs to be corrected prior to applying the coating. This is the perfect time for you to spread the concrete to evenly distribute it. Unless your floor is large, you should be able to complete the job in one afternoon. You may freely link Website operating Place the bar flat against the surface of the floor … … Concrete is often ground down to obtain a glass-like smooth finish. Does anyone know how to make a rough floor smooth? We are using a water based epoxy bonding agent with a … There are two things you can do fix the rough finish. All rights reserved. suggestions. On each successive pass, lift the leading edge of the trowel a little more. Fortunately, you don't have to deal with dips, holes, and cracks. Tina, We often finish new slabs with an acid etch. I am wanting to put down hardwood flooring and have a slight problem. Then, determine the overall condition of the concrete. You grind it down or add more cement to finish off smooth. Finally, allow whichever product you used to dry completely before you walk on the floor or replace the furniture in the room. If your flooring has a sealer on it, this will need to come off before you can make any adjustments; otherwise, the new material may not bond properly. You might think man-made stone would be impossible to sand. There are various tools used for grinding concrete. Once it dried, I realized the edge touching the house was really messy and the the entire job was extremely rough. A metal trowel with a straight edge will be used to smooth the surface. Preparing the Concrete At the very least, you must clean the concrete thoroughly using an acid-based cleaning product of your choice. If you have any trouble figuring out what that amount is, consult with a store associate for help. Step 1. All information is provided "AS IS." to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. On the other hand, if your cement floor is extremely uneven or has large holes or cracks, you will need a leveling compound to smooth it. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". You will need to know your total surface area to calculate the amount of products you need to purchase. Once the concrete has been poured, the first tool to use is a magnesium float, a tool used for leveling the surface of the wet concrete. View our Privacy Policy here. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. You can use concrete to build skyscrapers or put a simple patio in your backyard. Copyright© to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Preparing for Slab Foundation Construction. home improvement and repair website. It spreads across uneven slabs, filling in low spots as it creates a new, level surface. home improvement and repair website. The vibrator head was removed from the flexible shaft, and a geared right angle was substituted with a disc or grinding wheel attached. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". For smooth finishes and removing minor imperfections, use 80- to 120-grit sandpaper. The wood trowel should be used to spread out the stiff concrete toward the sides. Step 2. You may freely link In order to tackle a concrete pond, you should use a large 8 inch angle grinder. suggestions. Use 3 or 4 passes to ensure the concrete is level and smooth. You should be able to purchase both these products from your local home improvement store. Will Precast Concrete Steps Work for You? I've got an old fireplace, and the hearth in terrible shape. There are also three different types of sanded finish you can achieve, depending upon the tools and amount of removed … One of the first tools to be used for grinding concrete was the concrete vibrator. Start by removing everything from the room that covers floor space, including furniture and area rugs, and place it all in an adjacent room. Swirl Finish. Step 4. On the other hand, if your cement floor is extremely uneven or has large holes or cracks, you will need a leveling compound to smooth it. Floating floor on slightly uneven concrete???? Protect Your Laminate Flooring: Products To Avoid. This is the easiest way to smooth out your concrete floor. Step 5. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Acrylic concrete sealer non-uniform adhesion issues. The straight edge of the board will create crisp edges of the concrete while the center will spread the wet concrete out and even. While you might not care what your garage floor looks like, it's likely that you will want a smoother, unblemished surface for your indoors. I assu... Possible to smooth out textured privacy glass? Hi All - longtime reader, first time posting here. Pouring a Concrete Walkway 4 - Screeding... Pouring a Concrete Walkway 4 - Screeding and Finishing. It was broomed pretty rough for an 'outdoor' patio. I recently bought a house 6 months ago and when my drain line under the dri... [left] i would like to fix these bricks so they are flat once again. Concrete Slab Cost. If you plan on leveling a concrete floor, you can do so with relative ease by using a leveling compound. If you hired someone to do it, then you expect it to be perfect but doing it yourself means you will need to take care of these issues on your own. For the smoothest finish use superfine sandpaper, 200- to 400-grit or higher. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. There are basically two methods used to smooth off hardened concrete surfaces. Step 2 – Before the Curing Fan the Concrete. Make multiple passes over the entire surface to ensure it is smooth. Since the curing is not complete it remains pliable. Pack the Fill. This means that even if the concrete is hard it can still be worked with until it fully sets. The good news is that concrete can be sanded with relative ease when the proper equipment is used, such as a good concrete sandpaper (made using diamond instead of sand).. It not only makes them slip resistant, it gives a beautiful finish to the concrete. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be The only thing that concerns me is the sealer you painted onto the concrete. Sometimes concrete ponds are constructed and virtually no thought is given to how the surface should be in regards to it being able to accept a waterproofing coating later. So, I have a ceiling to redo. View our Privacy Policy here. All information is provided "AS IS." Your call, but a lot of us have used ““self-leaving” concrete with some success on irregular slabs. Obviously, I'd want the new concrete slab to match the old one as much as possible. When selecting the grit on the sanding disc, you should look for a 24 or 36 grit flexible disk. Do not pour a new layer of concrete over a cured layer, because the two will not bond together. Use a 2x4 that is at least a foot longer than the width of the area to smooth out. How To Smooth A Rough Concrete Floor. Strip off paint, sealers or any other coatings on the floor. The bull float should have rounded ends, not flat or straight ends.