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How To Smooth Rough Concrete Patio

How Do I Clean Polished Concrete

Smooth Finish Concrete Patio … All Access 510-701-4400

The best way to clean and maintain your finished polished concrete is to use a PH neutral cleaner. Then, use clean and hot water on it. Most common detergents and floor cleaners are fine, but it’s best to avoid using hard abrasive chemicals like acids.

If you?re not sure about the cleaning agent you want to use, try testing a small area first. A microfiber mop or cloth can also help remove dust.

How To Fix Rough Broom Finished Concrete Sidewalk

Q. I recently had new concrete sidewalks & a patio pour with colored concrete . They swept the concrete to deep & didn’t work it properly now it looks and feels rough and the color is not consistent. Can the finish be fixed?A. There are two things you can do fix the rough finish. One is, you could grind or polish the surface which would remove the rough broom finish and smooth the surface of the concrete. Some of the aggregate would be exposed giving you a nice smooth decorative look to your sidewalk and patio. A concrete sealer could be applied with some grit additive to keep it from being too slippery when it gets wet.Second, a concrete overlay could be installed over the rough surface with color added to it and lightly broomed, giving you more of the look you were first looking for. An experienced installer could do either of these finishes rather easily.

How Do I Smooth Out Extremely Rough Concrete

Gavin_mire said:Hey Guys, I’m thinking about buying this house but the previous owner did a terrible job on the concrete & I was hoping on getting some advice on how to smooth it out if possible. Please check out the pictures attached and give advice if you’ve got any. Thanks!

Rickht said:Gavin, check out this site as it talks about two products that might help you out. I have used the sakrete flo coat with good success but I’m thinking you may have to do a little grinding to prep the surface.

DoItMyselfToo said:Gavin, depending on how much you DIY, there are several options for grinding. One, use a laser level and smaller, hand held diamond grinder to fix the really bad stuff and then use some kind of topping mix to fix it up. You could rent a larger, diamond grinder with dust collection, or you might also check into local flooring contractors, especially a smaller one man operation, to do the grinding for you. They’ll have all the right equipment to grind it flat and possibly avoid using a resurfacing mix. Then you apply some kind of sealer, etc.I’m sure the big dogs will chime in soon. Best of luck to you.

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What Can I Do To Make My Front Porch Look Better

Either way, youll want a nice-looking front porch, since its the first thing people see when you invite them into your home. Stamping concrete is an excellent way to make it look more appealing, and you can later paint the stamped concrete to make it look even better. This isnt a do-it-yourself project, though.

S You Should Follow If You Want To Learn How To Smooth Concrete After It Dries

Seamless Stamped Concrete patio and steps with rough grani ...

Perhaps, in the beginning, the task seems easy, it may happen that the results are not as expected. Moisture problems, difficulties in leveling the space, the presence of extreme loads, or excessive abrasion could also arise. That is why you need to be careful with this process. We want to teach you the correct way to do it.

These are the 4 steps in how to smooth concrete after it dries:

  • Remove all imperfections on the surface
  • Vacuum up all debris and apply the adherent
  • Apply a new layer of concrete
  • Sand the surface and wash the concrete
  • Apply a layer of vitrifier to protect the concrete
  • The advantages of polished concrete floors imply, among other things, a good luminosity and brightness, since it is a surface that reflects the natural light of the rooms very well. Therefore, it is important that you learn the correct way of how to carry out this process.

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    What Is The Best Way To Smooth Concrete

    Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface. If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish.

    Type Of Sandpaper For Concrete

    The sandpaper you choose for sanding will differ completely depending on the type of concrete polishing you are doing. If you are doing wet concrete sanding, you will want to make sure your sandpaper is compatible with wet environments. You should also pay attention to the grit size of the sandpaper you choose based on the level of smoothness you want to achieve.

    Start with coarse grit sandpaper and work up to superfine sandpaper for a perfect finish

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    Concrete Finishing Tips And Tricks

    Irrespective of the fact whether you are a professional or not, concrete finishing tips and tricks always come in handy. Even when you are performing a little fix in your house you will find yourself making use of these techniques. Here are some concrete finishing tips and tricks for reference.


    • Paying attention to the texture of the surface of the concrete is central to achieving a proper finish.
    • You can make sure of this fact by using a broom to achieve the finish that you want to see.
    • Alternatively, you can also make use of a trowel to attain this.

    How To Sand Concrete Patio

    How To Skim Coat A Concrete Patio – Pour Concrete Surface

    The procedure of sanding a concrete patio is very similar to a cement floor.

  • Before you start polishing your concrete patio, be sure to protect stairs, railings, or patio furniture nearby by covering it in plastic.
  • Follow steps 2 through 9 above as polishing your patio will require the same process as sanding a floor.
  • Once you have finished your initial four passes of sanding your patio, clean the entire floor and apply a sealer. Make sure that the concrete sealer you choose is approved for exterior surfaces and is a water repellant.
  • Repeat step 10 above until your patio surface is to the smooth finish that you desire.
  • Once the finish of the concrete is as smooth as you want, apply a paint or stain that is specified for exterior use. This ensures that the paint or stain will stand up to the elements and repel water.
  • Contents

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    How Long Does Concrete Grinding Take

    The time concrete grinding takes depends on several factors. This includes:

    • How large the surface is
    • Whether the area is open or if there are lots of small spots that require extra intricate work
    • Which concrete polishing system you need out of full polish or grind and seal
    • How much exposure of stone you?d like to see
    • The level of gloss or shine you desire

    To give you some perspective, a standard garage for a grind and seal takes approximately two days for concrete grinding. A house that has around 100m2 of full exposure and polish takes about five to six days.


    Can You Smooth Out Concrete After It Dries

    Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface. If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish.

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    How Can I Grind Concrete Without Dust

    Steps: If no dust extraction is available for drilling or grinding, running a water hose onto the surface or holding a vacuum up to the tool will keep dust down. Use a drill dust attachment by turning the vacuum on and sticking the attachment to the surface. The suction from the vacuum should hold it in place.

    How To Make Concrete Smooth And Shiny

    How To Smooth Rough Concrete Patio

    Almost all construction activities make active use of concrete as an essential component in their ventures. However one must keep in mind that theres a lot of maintenance that they must do to get the best results. Heres what you can do to make the concrete smooth and shiny for reference.

    • Firstly never attempt anything on wet concrete.
    • Especially if its a foundational structure, any sort of tampering might lead to long-lasting consequences.
    • As a starting point, most users indulge in periodic mopping and sweeping of the concrete surface to make it shiny. A solution of soap and waterworks.

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    Professional Way: Grind The Patio

    What is a concrete grinder?

    It is a finishing tool used for leveling and restoring floors by removing organic and non-organic residues/materials with the aid of a rotating disc engineered with abrasive diamond. It is used for smoothing or polishing rough concrete.

    Types of concrete grinders:

    There are several types of concrete grinders and they can be powered by either gas, propane gas, or electricity. The most effective are the ones that use gas. Nonetheless, the electric and propane gas grinders work just fine.

    Hand-Held Concrete grinders: Due to their size theyre being used to smoothen narrow corners where a walk-behind concrete grinder cant enter. It comes in different models, one of which is the versatile angle grinder that can be used for smoothing or polishing concrete and metals. With a cutting disc of 1.2mm it can cut any metal, steel, and stone.


    Walk-Behind Concrete grinders: Theyre used in smoothing large concrete areas. This type of concrete grinder comes in different sizes and models. The two main types are rotary and planetary grinders. The rotary grinder is heavier and has a large disc that spins at high speed allowing it to make better contact with the surface while planetary grinders have double pads compared to the former. Theyre lightweight making them easy to maneuver.

    Aside from the angle grinder which is the star of the show, youll also need other supplementary equipment like

    Ensure you are suited up in your protective gear then proceed to

    How Do I Smooth Patio Concrete For Tile While Maintaining Slope

    I just poured concrete for an outside patio that is roughly 21′ long x 5′ wide. It has the appropriate slope for drainage. Once it’s fully cured I plan to lay 24″ x 16″ travertine stone tiles over it. The stone pieces are roughly 1 1/2″ thick. Unfortunately I’m a concrete rookie and the surface is not smooth. Is there a simply way for me to smooth the surface enough for the tile while maintaining the drainage slope?

    • You will want a finished surface that is rough enough not to be slippery when wet. Looking at the post time , you may be able to run a broom over the surface even now . A friend and I left the first patio we poured, smooth and it was slippery like ice when ever wet. blacksmith37Aug 31 ’19 at 21:30
    • Smooth is not so much the problem but slope. A rough surface is fine but if you do not have a slope you may need to do some grinding or a heck of a job with thinset providing a proper slope.

    Isn’t it a little late to be asking that question?? Get a 2×4 and run it along the framing for the concrete, smoothing it out.


    Even if the concrete isn’t totally smooth, when you install the tile you can smooth the rough surface of the concrete with the mortar… If the slab you poured has the proper slope make sure each tile is flush with the slab and you’ll get the slope you desire. Good luck

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    How Do I Smooth A Dry Concrete Floor

    Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth.

    We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface.

    If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish..

    Set Your Concrete Grinder

    CONCRETE PATIO AND SIDEWALK FINISHING TECHNIQUES | HOW TO FINISH CONCRETE

    Before using the grinder make sure to properly attach everything that needs to be attached like the disc, and handle guard. For no reason should you remove the handle guard, it is there to protect you from injuring yourself. Dont plug in the grinder until youve properly attached everything to prevent accidents. Also, make sure there is no one around you that can get hurt from the shooting debris. If someone is with you they must wear protective gear as well and ensure there is no flammable material nearby.

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    Sand The Surface And Wash The Concrete

    For this finishing process, we recommend you use an orbital sander since the idea is not to lower too much. Start with medium sandpaper to remove the most noticeable irregularities. Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface.

    If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish. You must be careful, if you put a lot of water you may damage the concrete. The way to do it is simple but there are details to take into account, since it is not only about sanding the concrete.

    How To Sand Concrete To A Smooth Finish

    The process you use to sand your concrete to a smooth finish will depend on the type of project you are taking on. The size of the project and the location will alter the tools and methods that you use to polish. In any case, however, you will want to make sure you properly prep the concrete surface before you start polishing.

    Remove any large irregularities on the surface such as bumps so you can achieve a uniform finish across the entire surface once you start the sanding process. You will also want to fill in any holes and remove any dust or debris.

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    How To Smooth Rough Concrete

    Rruauu22napRruauu24napRruauu26taeRrmharrelSstadry1some apron stores have rental shops featuring sawtec diamond grinders w/dust shrouds that hook up to your wet/dry vac but that method’s only good for taking off the high spots.ck w/any const supply house for a polymer-modified cementitious repair mortar,,, read AND follow the directions – should not be a problem other’n the color’ll be different.using ANY paint on a conc floor’s useless imn-s-hfo as you’ve found, plumbers are not conc masons

    How Much Will A Concrete Grinder Remove

    How To Smooth Rough Concrete Patio

    Polished concrete offers a sophisticated look to any room. However, most people don?t know how to obtain that sleek and sophisticated style.

    If you have any type of concrete surface, it can be smoothed with a concrete grinder to achieve the desired look using common concrete grinding techniques.

    A concrete grinder is an abrasive tool working with a diamond attachment. It works on rough concrete surfaces, resulting in a smooth and stylish finish.

    If you?d like polished concrete, you may be wondering, “How much will a concrete grinder remove?” We?re here to answer that, along with eight other commonly asked questions.

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    Can I Use An Angle Grinder On Concrete

    Let’s start by saying that an angle grinder isn’t the only tool you can use to smooth out or cut concrete with, but it is the most practical and cost-effective option for DIYers.

    If your sole occupation doesn’t revolve around you lugging bags of cement around a building site on a daily basis, you might be unaware of what tools of the trade are required?!

    Now while that trusty angle grinder of yours can be utilized to cut through dense compound materials like metal or concrete, it can only do so if you’re using the right wheel.

    There are two different wheels typically used to cut and smooth out concrete.

    For cutting concrete, you should make use of a diamond blade that can be used for both wet and dry cutting of concrete. A diamond blade is an exceedingly versatile asset to have at your disposal as it can slice and dice everything from stone to granite, brickwork, and even tile.

    When attempting to exploit your angle grinder to manipulate such a robust surface as concrete, you need to first fit adiamond cup wheel. This type of grinding wheel vigorously removes deteriorated paintwork, degrading wallpaper material, glues, epoxy resins, and other surface coatings you like banished to the shadowland.

    So yeah, it’s safe to say that when it comes to assaulting unsightly concrete you’d like to smooth out or even butcher with the right blade, an angle grinder is perfect.

    Create Grooves In The Concrete

    Set a straight board along predetermined marks for control joints. Run the groover back and forth against the straightedge until the bed of the tool is riding on the concrete surface. After smoothing the slab with the darby, water will bleed out of the concrete and sit on the surface . This is temporary. Itll soon reabsorb into the concrete. However, its critical to wait until it disappears.

    Working the concrete before the surface bleed water disappears will weaken the surface of the slab when it dries. 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. deep impression.

    Start by running the edger around the perimeter to round and compact the corner . Sometimes its a little tough at first as you push larger aggregate back into the concrete and round over the edge. If the edger is leaving a path deeper than about 1/8 in., wait for the concrete to set a little longer and apply less downward pressure.

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