Contents
- 1 How do you make concrete shiny?
- 2 How do I make concrete look polished?
- 3 How do you make concrete smooth and shiny?
- 4 Can any concrete be polished?
- 5 Can I polish my concrete floor yourself?
- 6 Is polished concrete slippery?
- 7 What is the best finish for concrete floors?
- 8 What tools do you need to polish concrete?
- 9 How long does it take to polish concrete?
- 10 What is the smoothest concrete mix?
- 11 When should I brush my concrete?
- 12 When should I start finishing my concrete?
- 13 Can I pour concrete over existing concrete?
- 14 Can you retrofit polished concrete?
- 15 Is polished concrete cheaper than tiles?
How do you make concrete shiny?
After you stain your concrete floor with the color of your choice, you should apply a concrete sealer. A glossy sealer creates a shiny surface, and an acrylic wax adds an additional protective coat.
How do I make concrete look polished?
Grind with a 150-grit metal-bonded diamond (or finer, if desired). Apply a chemical hardener to densify the concrete. Polish with a 100- or 200-grit resin-bond diamond, or a combination of the two. Polish with a 400-grit resin-bond diamond.
How do you make concrete smooth and shiny?
To achieve a smooth and shiny concrete finish first requires proper leveling, floating, and troweling before it cures. After attaining a relatively smooth concrete surface, and once the concrete is dry, you can utilize either mechanical or chemical polishing methods to achieve a nice, glossy shine.
Can any concrete be polished?
Almost any structurally sound concrete floor, whether new or old, can be polished. However there are some exceptions, for example with new floors no special mix design is required to achieve good results – although the floor should be in place at least 28 days before polishing begins to ensure adequate curing.
Can I polish my concrete floor yourself?
The good news is, you can achieve this smooth, glossy look for yourself AND you don’t have to outsource the job to tradesmen either! With a range of easy-to-operate concrete polishing equipment for rent, you can be the master of your own project on either old or new concrete floors.
Is polished concrete slippery?
Is polished concrete slippery? Generally speaking, it is no more slippery than other hard flooring surfaces. Add water to it though and like any other hard surface it will be slippery. As a general rule Mechanically Polished Concrete is slip resistant – but like many other flooring options it will be slippery when wet.
What is the best finish for concrete floors?
Top Concrete Finishing Options
- Acid Stain. An acid stain for concrete floor has a very bold look, recognizable by its mottled appearance and highly variegated finish.
- Water-Based Stain.
- Fast Stain.
- Acrylic Sealer.
- Standard Epoxy.
- Metallic Epoxy.
- Terrazzo or Granite Epoxy.
- Quartz Sand Epoxy.
What tools do you need to polish concrete?
The most essential equipment required for a perfect concrete polished floor are:
- Grinders and Polishers:
- Diamond Tools for Grinding and Polishing:
- Industrial Floor Vacuum:
- Hardening and Compacting Agents:
- Enhancing the Floor with Coloring Agents, Dyes and Stains:
How long does it take to polish concrete?
Depending on the area, the level of polish, and the obstacles, the polishing can take upwards of 2 to 3 days. However, you can use the surface immediately after the polishing is done. For more information on polished concrete, or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company.
What is the smoothest concrete mix?
I suggest using an aggregate free Portland cement and sand (or silica powder if its available). The ratio is typically 1 part cement to 3 parts sand and water of course. The trick to getting a smooth final surface starts after its poured and before it sets.
When should I brush my concrete?
When it comes to brooming, timing is critical—brush too early and the surface will be weak, brush too late and there won’t be enough texture. It must be done while the slab is still soft, but after the bleed water has dissipated. Depending on the weather, this can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours.
When should I start finishing my concrete?
When all traces of the water are gone and the concrete starts to harden, you can resume finishing activities. Test by pressing your gloved thumb onto the surface near the perimeter. The concrete is ready when pressing hard only leaves a 1/4-in.
Can I pour concrete over existing concrete?
If done properly, new concrete can often be poured right over an existing slab. For this to be feasible, the contractor needs to pour at least 2 inches thick, use smaller aggregate, and incorporate reinforcement such as welded wire mesh or fiber mixed into the concrete.
Can you retrofit polished concrete?
The retrofit process involves either cutting and sanding the existing concrete slab to make it polished or adding an upper layer of polished concrete at least 50 mm thick over the existing foundation.
Is polished concrete cheaper than tiles?
This is because of the complicated steps involved to create the smooth and consistent finish you are after. Compare that to polished concrete look floor tiles, which cost a fraction of the price at TFO. Even including the cost of installation, it would be much cheaper to use concrete look tiles.