Breaking up the old concrete to pour new requires more work, but can you pour concrete over existing walkway or patio surfaces successfully? If the existing concrete is in good shape structurally, you can pour new concrete over it to freshen it up. Proper prep work is key to success when layering new concrete over old.
A float compacts the concrete surface, giving it a smooth look. Putting a smooth, durable finish on concrete is a skill you can only master with the proper set of tools and practice.
Allow to dry for several days.
- Sand and Vacuum the Floor. Sand off any old paint or any other uneven areas.
- Fill Cracks and Holes. If the surface of your floor is cracked or rough, mix concrete patch compound, following package directions.
- Apply Primer.
- Apply Epoxy Paint.
- Apply Masonry Sealer.
6 Ways to Make Over a Concrete Patio
- Paint a Pattern. Yes, you can paint your concrete slab.
- Lay Decking Flooring. Did you know you can lay decking over a concrete slab?
- Add Curves With Pavers.
- Lay Slate Tiles.
- Stain the Concrete to Look Like Tile.
- Add a Beautiful Outdoor Rug.
Repair Crumbling Concrete. Concrete is simply artificial rock. If it's mixed, placed, finished and cured correctly it can last 100 or more years. To add a thin patch of concrete that wouldn't exceed 3/8-inch in thickness, all you do is mix coarse clean sand with Portland cement.
Concrete has a very porous surface. Scuff sanding not only helps remove the old product, but it gives the concrete surface a slightly rough texture so new sealants can bond with the surface. You can scuff-sand concrete with a pole sander or a hand sander. For larger jobs, rent a floor sander.
Since the product is water-based, it flows with gravity to fill in the low areas of the slab. Using a self-leveling compound allows any homeowner to complete leveling a garage floor like a seasoned pro. Charles Ramos, Jr.
Cost To Replace a Garage Floor
The base cost to install a concrete floor replacement will be approximately $6-15 per square foot. But there are a number of additional details that you'll need to take into account, to arrive at the final price.Use a Finishing Trowel
To finish the concrete, use a steel finishing trowel to achieve a smooth texture. The tool brings water to the surface of the concrete. Don't use too much water, but at the time same time, work the tool to create a smooth finish.Epoxy Garage Floor Cost
Homeowners pay an average of $2,150 to coat an existing concrete floor. Total project costs typically range between $1,429 and $2,946. Materials and equipment alone will cost you $2 to $5 per square foot. Expect to pay a pro another $1 to $7 per square foot for labor.Things You'll Need
Use sandpaper and a sanding block to abrade your basement's concrete floor. You need to sand the concrete floor, by hand or with a sander, so the new layer of paint/coating can adhere to the concrete correctly and not just cover debris or old paint.If you have concrete that is going to be exposed architecturally, you can sand it by hand using wet and dry sandpaper or an orbital sander. After sanding you should apply 2-3 coats of “acid wash” on the entire surface to hide sandpaper scratch marks from the concrete.
Wet Rubbing Finishing Method
Finishing process is conducted by slow speed grinding disc (wheel), at the same time applying water. So, the operator can apply water and grind concrete Simultaneously. The water and the rubbing action, brings up a cement paste which makes concrete very smooth, plaster-like surface.If you've dry-sanded your concrete and still have a cement-cream finish, then the easiest thing to do is to wet sand by hand using 320 to 400 grit silicon-carbide wet/dry sandpaper. Silicon carbide is much harder than concrete, so it abrades the surface easily, but won't remove your cream finish.
An orbital sander is the correct equipment to use when sanding concrete. You will want to have several different grit sizes of orbital sanding discs on hand. To remove only a small rough patch or uneven area, you can use 1000-grit automobile black sandpaper, which is very fine and will not remove much of the concrete.
- Remove all items from the concrete porch.
- Sweep the concrete porch to remove dirt, small particulates and dust, using a push broom.
- Attach a coarse, metal mesh diamond disc to the orbital floor grinder/sander machine.
- Vacuum the concrete dust created by the orbital machine with a shop vacuum.
The removal of old concrete sealer can be done in one of two ways: mechanical or chemical. The mechanical way involves using some kind of tool to physically grind, sand, or blast away the sealer. There can be significant scratching or damage sustained during the process of mechanically removing sealer.
Apply concrete patch to the edges and corners – in order to provide a smooth, finished look, you need to add vinyl concrete patch material to the freshly-rounded corners and edges. To apply, scoop a small amount of the patch material onto a putty knife and lay it down in thin layers on the areas you just rounded.
