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Concrete floor refinishing adds polish and beauty to concrete floors. Discount Contractor Supply sells concrete supplies like brushes and brooms, edgers and groovers, and concrete colorants to make your concrete finishing project successful. Whether you're a contractor or an enthusiastic DIYer, we can help you through your next concrete refinishing project.
Concrete floor refinishing is the process of adding an attractive, durable surface to your concrete. Concrete finishing can be done to freshly poured concrete or to concrete that has already cured, depending on the type of finish desired. Are you wondering how to refinish concrete floors? Here's what you need to know.
Before a hardened concrete floor can be finished, it needs to be prepped. This preparation process helps ensure a long-lasting, durable finish.
Clean the floor. Get rid of dirt and debris using a broom or vacuum. If the floor is stained by contaminants like grease or oil, clean the surface. Use a commercial degreaser or cleaner for this project. Remove previous coatings.
Repair cracks and pits in the floor. Use epoxy filler to fill cracks and imperfections in the floor.
Allow the concrete to dry. Concrete needs to be dry before it's finished with a coating or sealer. Tape a plastic sheet to the concrete for 24 hours. If condensation appears under the tarp, then the concrete is too wet. Allow it to dry.
Etch the floor. You can etch the floor with a mixture of muriatic acid. This will roughen the floor, creating a surface the coating or sealant can adhere to. Follow all manufacturer's instructions when etching concrete. For larger surfaces, use diamond grinding or shot blasting instead of etching acid.
Vacuum and clean again. Mechanical preparation like diamond grinding creates a lot of dust. Vacuum the area again to ensure the area is clean.
Apply primer. Some coatings require a primer. Check the manufacturer's instructions for your coating to determine whether this is the best option.
Get the best results for your concrete floors. When choosing a finish, consider the following:
Location. Is the concrete indoor or outdoor? Exterior concrete requires a finish that can withstand weather of all types. Often, exterior finishes are textured for additional traction during wet or icy weather. Interior floors require a finish that is easily cleaned and maintained. Typically, interior floors are polished and reflective.
How the space will be used. High-traffic areas require finishes that offer extra durability.
Safety. Select non-slip finishes in areas where people walk, run, and play.
Aesthetics. Every finish has its aesthetic value. Select a finish that matches the aesthetics of the area landscape or home where the concrete is installed.
There are many concrete finish options. Know all the choices to ensure that you choose the right option for your location and purposes.
Grinding and polishing concrete removes the upper surface of the concrete along with all stains and residues. Shallow cracks and small pits in the concrete are removed during this process as well. During the grinding process, use a diamond-coated disk to grind away the surface of the concrete. Next, polish the concrete with a finer grit.
Start by grinding concrete with a 100- to 200-grit diamond disk.
When it's time to polish, choose disks of increasingly higher grits. The more disks you use, the more reflective the concrete surface will be.
Finish by polishing the surface with an 800- to 1500-grit diamond disk.
When you're choosing between a sealant and a coating, it's important to consider where the concrete is located and what characteristics are desired in that location.
Concrete sealant is a protective coating that can repel chemicals, water, and contaminants. Multiple sealant types including penetrating sealants are absorbed into concrete and topical sealants form a protective film on top of concrete.
Sealants protect concrete from water and stains. They're highly durable and provide UV protection to prevent your concrete from discoloring. Sealers are often used on driveways, walkways, pool decks, patios, basements, and garage floors.
Concrete coatings provide protection and aesthetic beauty to your concrete. Coatings can be decorative and functional. Coating types include epoxy, acrylic, polyaspartic, and polyurea.
Coatings can improve the durability of your concrete, even in heavy traffic areas and in areas where your concrete may be vulnerable to chemical exposure. Coatings can be aesthetically attractive and are easily customized with patterns and metallic colors. Coatings are often found in garages, commercial spaces, and warehouses. Coatings can also be used in outdoor areas like pools, patios, and driveways.
Flat-top concrete finishes are smooth, flat, and polished. They're popular on interior floors as well as countertops. Flat-top concrete is sophisticated, understated, and elegant.
Decorative concrete is more artistic and textured. Decorative concrete may have patterns and color combinations that mimic the look of brick, wood, or slate. Decorative concrete may also be stamped as well as colored.
Decorative concrete is made with colors and patterns that add extra visual interest to your landscaping or interior concrete project. First, use the dry shake method to add concrete color hardener to the wet concrete. Next, use the dry shake method to apply the release agent to the concrete. The release agent allows you to stamp the concrete without worry the stamp will become stuck. Use concrete stamp patterns or texture rollers to add texture to the concrete.
Refinishing concrete adds beauty, value, and durability to your commercial building. Finished concrete can have many colors, patterns, and textures to match your commercial building's style. Finished concrete is also functional and durable.
Discount Contractor Supply sells all the supplies you need for leveling, stamping, and coloring your concrete. To get started with your next concrete project, contact us for all your concrete and masonry needs.
