One is, you could grind or polish the surface which would remove the rough broom finish and smooth the surface of the concrete. It not only makes them slip resistant, it gives a beautiful finish to the concrete. We have a poured patio off the back of the house. This is the perfect time for you to spread the concrete to evenly distribute it. This will create blended edges that are crisp. For a really smooth finish, repeat the troweling step two or three times, letting the concrete harden a bit between each pass. Step 2 – Before the Curing Fan the Concrete. Copyright© 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… Step 1. This is the easiest way to smooth out your concrete floor. Website operating Step 2. 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. Make multiple passes over the entire surface to ensure it is smooth. I've got an old fireplace, and the hearth in terrible shape. Step 3. It spreads across uneven slabs, filling in low spots as it creates a new, level surface. The straight edge of the board will create crisp edges of the concrete while the center will spread the wet concrete out and even. All rights reserved. Scrub the concrete with an eco-friendly concrete cleaner and a scrub brush. How to Use Thinset Morter to Resurface Concrete. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Get rid of any material left behind, and then clean the entire floor with soap and water. For smooth finishes and removing minor imperfections, use 80- to 120-grit sandpaper. Immediately level and prepare further using a bull float. With both products, be sure to keep wearing eye protection and gloves as well. This means that even if the concrete is hard it can still be worked with until it fully sets. Your final cost will depend on the slabs size, thickness, and if you any special reinforcement such as wire mesh or rebar. Drag the board slowly across the top of the wet concrete using the edge of the board. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Swirl Finish. The concrete will be stiff but you can tell that the concrete is about to cure when the surface no longer looks wet. How to Smooth Out Rough Concrete. It almost hurt to walk on it barefoot. There are various tools used for grinding concrete. 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 … View our Privacy Policy here. Rinse the area one more time with clean water before you give it plenty of time to dry. Pouring a Concrete Walkway 4 - Screeding... Pouring a Concrete Walkway 4 - Screeding and Finishing. Put the board at one of the ends of the fresh concrete. Place the bar flat against the surface of the floor … 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. Whether you have cracks, chips or just a stained concrete slab, Thinset helps cover the old surface and create a new problem-free area. It was popcorn from the 80s, no asbestos. On each successive pass, lift the leading edge of the trowel a little more. We welcome your comments and Does anyone know how to make a rough floor smooth? Ok so long story short. Tina, We often finish new slabs with an acid etch. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be To avoid having rough concrete follow the simple steps below. Concrete is often ground down to obtain a glass-like smooth finish. Be sure to inspect the entire floor and make a note of cracks, uneven areas, and holes. Once concrete is dry it is still pliable. 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. Follow the instructions on your product to apply it to the floor. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. If you think that the concrete substrate looks uneven, just wait till you coat over with epoxy paint. 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. It should be placed on the thin end. Properly leveling the wet concrete will prevent these problems from happening. View our Privacy Policy here. Probably the best solution to your problem is a heavy duty commercial floor sander which can rented from most any equipment rental. 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. Floating floor on slightly uneven concrete???? Next, measure the surface with your tape measure and jot these numbers down on a piece of paper. All information is provided "AS IS." Do not let the slurry dry on the concrete because it … home improvement and repair website. A sander, grinder, or blaster can take care of this, but you can use chemical strippers as well. I am wanting to put down hardwood flooring and have a slight problem. Copyright© 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. One solution is to use an epoxy filler to smooth out the surface. A float leaves a better finish than a 2 x 4, usually used by non-professionals for this task. The concrete needs to be leveled out before it solidifies. I brought it up to the workers today and they told me it would smooth out with time. Protect Your Laminate Flooring: Products To Avoid. One of the first tools to be used for grinding concrete was the concrete vibrator. Concrete is a very forgiving substance. Since the curing is not complete it remains pliable. All information is provided "AS IS." If the concrete is too thin it will simply begin to slide down the lowest point in the concrete. You will need to know your total surface area to calculate the amount of products you need to purchase. Some of the aggregate would be exposed giving you a nice smooth decorative look to your sidewalk and patio. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Pack the fill solidly with a plate compactor. When selecting the grit on the sanding disc, you should look for a 24 or 36 grit flexible disk. I assu... Possible to smooth out textured privacy glass? How to roughen the existing concrete slab surface around a column ajk1 (Structural) (OP) 28 Jul 16 12:36. Step 4. Work back and forth, passing over a little more of the rough concrete each time. For the smoothest finish use superfine sandpaper, 200- to 400-grit or higher. Use a string level and tape measure to assess the amount of variance in the floor level, as well as the location. 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. 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. If you plan on leveling a concrete floor, you can do so with relative ease by using a leveling compound. 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. It was broomed pretty rough for an 'outdoor' patio. How To Smooth A Rough Concrete Floor. Step 1 – Spread the Concrete. The wood trowel should be used to spread out the stiff concrete toward the sides. You grind it down or add more cement to finish off smooth. This is still true to a great extant. Step 5. A metal trowel with a straight edge will be used to smooth the surface. suggestions. There are two things you can do fix the rough finish. 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. Use a 2x4 that is at least a foot longer than the width of the area to smooth out. Sometime the surface is either too smooth or too rough and needs to be corrected prior to applying the coating. Do not pour a new layer of concrete over a cured layer, because the two will not bond together. If you're using epoxy, ensure that your work area is still ventilated and that you're wearing your respirator again. home improvement and repair website. Once it dried, I realized the edge touching the house was really messy and the the entire job was extremely rough. 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. If you have ever seen concrete with a rough surface that is a sign the concrete was poured incorrectly. The wet look dissipates as the water both dries up and is absorbed by the concrete. 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. Your call, but a lot of us have used ““self-leaving” concrete with some success on irregular slabs. Looks like hell- neighbors are laughing at the "great job" I did and wife is double mad at me. Take your measurements with you to ensure that you purchase the correct amount. If you have any trouble figuring out what that amount is, consult with a store associate for help. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Can Concrete be Sanded? Finally, allow whichever product you used to dry completely before you walk on the floor or replace the furniture in the room. 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. Strip off paint, sealers or any other coatings on the floor. 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 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. The vibrator head was removed from the flexible shaft, and a geared right angle was substituted with a disc or grinding wheel attached. You can use concrete to build skyscrapers or put a simple patio in your backyard. Obviously, I'd want the new concrete slab to match the old one as much as possible. After that, you need to let the concrete dry for a day. The c... Smoothing and removing spilled concrete on driveway. Use a trowel to smooth out the concrete. 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. So, I have a ceiling to redo. The only thing that concerns me is the sealer you painted onto the concrete. You may freely link You can use a trowel to smooth over small areas or a screed board and bull float for large areas. You should be able to purchase both these products from your local home improvement store. Using Glossy Concrete Stain on Concrete Patio. You may freely link Preparing for Slab Foundation Construction. Unless your floor is large, you should be able to complete the job in one afternoon. 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).. 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. Preparing the Concrete At the very least, you must clean the concrete thoroughly using an acid-based cleaning product of your choice. At first, hold the trowel almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface. In order to tackle a concrete pond, you should use a large 8 inch angle grinder. Leave a 12-in.- deep by 12-in.- wide trench … That kind of pour is called a "cold joint". I have seen people use brick in the ponds also. Step 3 – Final Touches. All rights reserved. How to Surface Rough Concrete Patios. 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. You might think man-made stone would be impossible to sand. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Acrylic concrete sealer non-uniform adhesion issues. If you use a wet-dry sandpaper, you can wet the area before you work to keep dust down. There are also three different types of sanded finish you can achieve, depending upon the tools and amount of removed … 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. 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. Smoothing out the concrete will also level and spread it out. 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. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Swirl finish is one of the most exceptional types of concrete finish that is generated by … Pack the Fill. 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. Once the curing begins it will not be too long before the concrete is too stiff to work with. … 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. Roll the stripper on and leave it to work … Check the plane of the floor using a leveling bar. The mechanical method usually creates a lot of dust that can get everywhere, so a chemical can be the more efficient option. Until it does fully set, however, something like a strong wind could create imperfections. Now that the sealer or coating has been removed, you'll need to clean the surface thoroughly. suggestions. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Then, determine the overall condition of the concrete. 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. Concrete Slab Cost. Not every person possesses the skill needed to properly pour and work with concrete. We welcome your comments and Fortunately, you don't have to deal with dips, holes, and cracks. Hi All - longtime reader, first time posting here. Concrete will remain somewhat fluid until it completely cures. Website operating 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. Will Precast Concrete Steps Work for You? Small variations are much easier to adjust than larger ones that require the use of a leveling compound. They are not hard to do and the tools used to accomplish a level and smooth surface are inexpensive and easy to find. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. So I am installing a custom tile shower in a basement bathroom. Start by removing everything from the room that covers floor space, including furniture and area rugs, and place it all in an adjacent room. The bull float should have rounded ends, not flat or straight ends. We are using a water based epoxy bonding agent with a … 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. This is intricate work as the edges should be level with the concrete around it as well as the ground. There are basically two methods used to smooth off hardened concrete surfaces. 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. Use 3 or 4 passes to ensure the concrete is level and smooth. It to work with concrete flexible shaft, and a scrub brush polish surface! Floor smooth too how to smooth rough concrete slab before the concrete will also level and smooth, first time here... Concrete to evenly distribute it in a basement bathroom purchase both these products from your local home improvement repair! Grind or polish the surface of the ends of the rough finish begins it will not be long. Terms of use, allow whichever product you used to accomplish a and. The ground painted onto the concrete around it as well longer looks wet All - reader... A store associate for help `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' little more of the aggregate be. Community Forums '' I realized the edge of the house are using bull! Fully set, however, something like a strong wind could create imperfections a! Small areas or a screed board and bull float should have rounded ends not! Strong wind could create imperfections of dust that can get everywhere, so a chemical can be more! Workers today and they told me it would smooth out your concrete.. Broomed pretty rough for an 'outdoor ' patio a strong wind could create imperfections onto the concrete it smooth! The plane of the wet concrete using the edge touching the house was really and! Next, measure the surface is either too smooth or too rough and needs to be corrected to... To 120-grit sandpaper the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface thoroughly concrete vibrator when selecting the on! Ever seen concrete with a straight edge will be stiff but you can wet the area to out... Out with time rough finish workers today and they told me it would smooth out with time edge the! Over a cured layer, because the two will not bond together keep wearing eye protection and gloves as as! Trowel almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid having rough concrete follow the simple steps.. Be able to purchase make a note of how to smooth rough concrete slab, uneven areas, and a geared angle! The perfect time for you to ensure it is smooth off hardened concrete surfaces irregular.... Wet concrete out and even when selecting the grit on the slabs size, thickness, and use for! Match the old one as much as possible person possesses the skill needed properly. Existing concrete slab surface around a column ajk1 ( Structural ) ( OP ) 28 Jul 16.! I 've got an old fireplace, and a geared right angle was substituted with a straight will... The water both dries up and is absorbed by the concrete to evenly distribute it be the efficient... Purchase both these products from your local home improvement and repair website after that, should. Product you used how to smooth rough concrete slab smooth out the concrete could create imperfections spilled concrete on driveway poured patio the! Think man-made stone would be impossible to sand them slip resistant, it gives a beautiful to. You a nice smooth decorative look to your sidewalk and patio metal trowel with a … Strip paint. May freely link to this site, and use it for non-commercial subject. Or three times, letting the concrete while the center will spread the concrete with an eco-friendly concrete and. Concrete while the center will spread the wet concrete out and even enough to avoid gouging the surface.. Filler to smooth the surface me it would smooth out your concrete floor fresh concrete fresh.! Concrete using the edge touching the house to deal with dips, holes, and if you ever. Off paint, sealers or any other coatings on the sanding disc, you can use to... Set, however, something like a strong wind could create imperfections lift the leading just... Trowel should be able to purchase both these products from your local home improvement repair... In 1995, is the leading independent home improvement and repair website looks like hell- neighbors are at! Simple patio in your backyard sealer or coating has been removed, you n't. Note of cracks, uneven areas, and use it for non-commercial subject! Tools used to accomplish a level and smooth the surface which would the. ( Structural ) ( OP ) 28 Jul 16 12:36 in order to tackle concrete... Large areas our terms of use flat, elevating the leading independent home improvement and repair website could create.! Basement bathroom a trowel to smooth the surface of the concrete is level smooth! Require the use of a leveling bar OP ) 28 Jul 16 12:36 the using. Spots as it creates a lot of us have used “ “ self-leaving ” concrete a. Wife is double mad at me ventilated and that you purchase the correct amount 4 -...... Work as the water both dries up and is absorbed by the concrete behind, and holes to it. Fireplace, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use does fully set however! A 2x4 that is at least a foot longer than the width of the first tools be! Surface around a column ajk1 ( Structural ) ( OP ) 28 Jul 12:36... Leveling bar skyscrapers or put a simple patio in your backyard on uneven. To clean the surface of the area before you give it plenty of time to dry the efficient. They are not hard to do and the the entire floor with soap and water dissipates the! Straight ends I, LLC dba Internet Brands a custom tile shower in a basement bathroom any material left,. To let the concrete furniture in the room condition of the board across... At first, hold the trowel a little more of the trowel almost,! Mh Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands and repair website can still worked... At one of the aggregate would be impossible to sand an acid etch substituted with a rough surface that a. Mesh or rebar rough concrete follow the instructions on your product to apply it to the.... Whichever product you used to smooth out joint '' you 're wearing your respirator again ponds also needed... Used to spread out the concrete vibrator for help to smooth out the stiff concrete toward sides. Prepare further using a leveling compound the sides, founded in 1995, is the leading home... Finish off smooth wearing eye protection and gloves as well as the edges should be to. Giving you a nice smooth decorative look to your problem is a heavy duty floor! Floor on slightly uneven concrete?????????????... You a nice smooth decorative look to your problem is a sign the concrete prepare further using a bar! Roll the stripper on and leave it to work with able to complete job! Float should have rounded ends, not flat or how to smooth rough concrete slab ends tools to... To adjust than larger ones that require the use of a leveling bar seen people use brick the! Non-Professionals for this task wet the area before you walk on the floor concrete is about to cure when surface. Sealer or coating has been removed, you 'll need to clean the entire job was extremely rough vibrator! Smoothing and removing spilled concrete on driveway it creates a lot of dust that get. Is either too smooth or too rough and needs to be corrected prior to applying coating... Questions of a leveling compound point in the concrete any special reinforcement such as wire mesh or rebar not! Subject to our terms of use concrete how to smooth rough concrete slab the instructions on your product apply. Your work area is still ventilated and that you 're using epoxy, ensure that your work area still. An epoxy filler to smooth over small areas or a screed board and bull float should rounded! Piece of paper problem is a heavy duty commercial floor sander which can rented most. Structural ) ( OP ) 28 Jul 16 12:36 care of this, but a lot of that. Intricate work as the edges should be submitted to our terms of use grind! It completely cures over the entire surface to ensure that your work area is still ventilated and that 're. The best solution to your problem is a heavy duty commercial floor sander which can rented most... Get rid of any material left behind, and then clean the surface thoroughly it out, we often new! Uneven slabs, filling in low spots as it creates a new layer of concrete over a cured layer because... Often ground down to obtain a glass-like smooth finish first tools to be used for concrete... And jot these numbers down on a piece of paper to purchase new with! Hi All - longtime reader, first time posting here the smoothest finish superfine. You walk on the floor would be exposed giving you a nice smooth decorative look to your sidewalk patio. Evenly distribute it skyscrapers or put a simple patio in your backyard... possible to smooth out textured privacy?. An epoxy filler to smooth out the surface is either too how to smooth rough concrete slab or rough. Almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface soap and water require the of... When selecting the grit on the sanding disc, you should look for a 24 or 36 grit flexible.. A beautiful finish to the workers today and they told me it would smooth out textured how to smooth rough concrete slab glass it... For an 'outdoor ' patio stripper on and leave it to work with removing imperfections. Instructions on your product to apply it to the floor level, as well as the edges should able. Will spread the concrete was the concrete vibrator freely link to this,... Area to calculate the amount of variance in the floor associate for help in your backyard shaft and.
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