Apply the Resurfacer
The easiest method for applying concrete resurfacer is to pour a small amount on the surface, then immediately begin spreading it evenly with a light, long-handled squeegee. Resurfacer can also be applied with a trowel or brush. Work in segments of no more than about 144 square feet at a time.
Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), and add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Spray the mixture on your concrete surface and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse your concrete.
Vinegar is a natural and safe alternative to cleaning concrete with harsh chemicals. In the case of algae and mold, it does a better job than bleach, and it is better in the long term for killing these infestations. Oftentimes, vinegar can be found in your home or garage.
Bleach, Soap, and Water Mixture
Mix one cup of bleach with one cup of powdered laundry detergent, then add 15 cups of hot water. Pour your mixture over your driveway's dirty areas, such as the parts that contain oil stains. Work your mixture in using a bristle brush and scrub for approximately 20 minutes.
Use a 150-grit metal-bonded diamond for grinding (or finer if desired). Densify the concrete by applying a chemical hardener. Using a resin-bonded diamond of 100 or 200 grit, or a combination of the two, polish the surface. Use a 400-grit resin-bonded diamond to polish the surface.
You can sand concrete to achieve a more refined concrete surface. If you use the proper tools and procedures, sanding concrete can be relatively straightforward. There are different methods of sanding concrete. It can be through either a wet or dry process, influencing the kind of sandpaper you will use.
Top it with a decorative overlay.
These products — typically a blend of cement, aggregates and polymer resins — go on like a super thick paint to smooth surfaces and add color. With some overlay systems, you can customize the look by staining, dying, scoring, stenciling or even stamping the surface.
Make an Impression
The concrete itself can be much more decorative than just a plain gray slab. A wide variety of concrete stamps are available to impress the surface, from those that mimic stone or block patterns to leaves and fossils. You can also buy texture rollers.
Epoxy Painted Concrete Floors
Epoxy is the most durable concrete finish and can be poured into cracks and crevices to help level the surface. But epoxy also is available in a variety of colors, allowing you to create unique hues and designs on your floor so you can even make a concrete floor look pretty.
To make the sparkle even more prominent, he recommends integrally coloring the concrete mix. This metallic aggregate from Pacific Palette Concrete Products comes in black and white. Sparkle Grain is recommended where you want a decorative, hard, nonslip surface.
Dry delivers more shine
It will provide a much higher level of light reflection and a classier-looking floor. Dry polishing will also always work better on a soft concrete floor. Soft concrete can wear even the hardest diamond bonds out far faster than expected.
The orbital sander is an ideal tool to use when sanding concrete. This will reduce your effort significantly and give a consistent polish to the counter or fixture. The one downside is how they are handheld with relatively small faces. If you are sanding an entire concrete floor, look for something larger.
Sea sand does not have high compressive strength, high tensile strength etc so it cannot be used in construction activities. In addition to this, the salt in sea sand tends to absorb moisture from atmosphere, bringing dampness.
The answer to “can I polish concrete floors myself” is yes, but only in a limited set of circumstances. DIY projects should only be attempted on newly poured slabs that are clean and in good condition. A matte finish is also preferable, as fewer sets of diamond polishing tools will be required.
For the dry polish method, the surface of the concrete is ground using commercial-scale polishing machines. Each stage of the process requires a different abrasive polishing disk, often incorporating diamond grit, with coarser textures for earlier stages and finer ones to get the final shine.
For basic sanding, use sandpaper with the grit between 40-60. To remove minor irregularities, use 80-120 grit sandpaper. For perfect finish and smoothness, use superfine sandpaper with grit ranging between 200-400. If there are severe imperfections, then you need to use a floor grinder or special diamond disc.
Concrete goes from a dull, rough surface to a shiny, smooth, polished surface through a series of grinding steps. This grinding is done with a series of diamond impregnated floor pads. These pads contain millions of microscopic diamonds that are used to grind the concrete and make it smoother.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material. Aside from being an effective cleaner and stain remover, it also acts as a disinfectant to the concrete surface.
Cleaning concrete with bleach, water, and 1/8 cup of dishwashing liquid is an effective solution when it comes to mildly dirty patios. Does white vinegar clean concrete? Cleaning concrete with vinegar is also good for mildly soiled (equal parts vinegar and water) or heavily soiled (full-strength vinegar) patios.