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.
If you want concrete that truly sparkles and shines, put some glass in the mix. Glass aggregate can replace part or all of the sand and gravel in concrete, for effects that range from colorful terrazzo, to granite- or marble-like finishes, to concrete that reflects light like a mirror.
Diamond polishing is one of the most common methods used to get a shiny glass-like surface. It uses industrial diamonds to smooth, grind, and ultimately polish the surface. The grit you use determines the level of sheen you'll get on your floors. The finer the abrasive grit, the better.
Efflorescence is the white powdery substance on the surfaces of unsealed concrete and the white blush seen with sealed floors. Efflorescence is caused by vapor migrating through the slab bringing soluble salts to the surface of the concrete.
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.
A professional will sprinkle salt particles over the wet concrete. Once it's sprinkled over the wet concrete, its grains are the rolled down. For 24 hours the concrete is left to dry. Once the concrete hardens, a powerful spray is used to remove the salt from the surface.
Mica is the mineral responsible for putting a sparkle on many rocks. This mineral is very flexible, and large sheets of it were used as window glass in the past.
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.
To achieve a high-gloss finish on concrete, you can either polish the surface with the appropriate diamond tooling or you can use a quality high-gloss concrete sealer.
Mix glow powder into the concrete.
While the ratios vary, most manufacturers recommend that you create a dry mix of 85% concrete and 15% glow powder.
Liquid detergent acts as an air-entraining admixture. During mixing, the detergent forms tiny air bubbles that are distributed throughout the mortar. These air bubbles lubricate the mortar, making it workable for long periods, even as the water evaporates.
If sand won't suffice during your concrete's second winter, then using ordinary sodium chloride (table salt) is the next best option if you are still focused on protecting your concrete. Sodium chloride is not corrosive to concrete, but still should not be used within the first 12 months after a concrete pour.
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.
Sealing concrete is a necessity: It keeps your floors clean, glossy and stain-resistant. Regularly applying a protective coating is vital to preventing chips, cracks and dirt buildup.
Leave alone the countertop to let the primer dry for at least six hours. To give the shiny look of granite, sprinkle the included minerals onto a sponge. Then gently pat the sponge onto the primed surface to make random mineral marks. Keep the application random and natural-looking just like a granite stone.