The two most common finishes for concrete are smooth and broom. Smoothing can be accomplished with a powered trowel or by hand trowel. As the concrete dries, a bull float is used to level the surface, followed by a series of successive final troweling.
This type of finish will give the concrete a smooth texture. A broom finish, on the other hand, is meant to provide a slip-resistant surface. Brooms are typically used on exterior walkways, driveways and patios, or any place that may become wet and slippery.
Brooming is done after the concrete is finished troweled and before the surface dries. When it comes time to finish the concrete, the workman uses a hand or power broom to sweep grooves into the surface, which gives it a slightly rough texture.
Smooth and broom finishes are widely used in the concrete industry, and are very popular in residential and commercial settings.
What is concrete surface finish?
Concrete surface finish refers to the texture and appearance of the finished concrete surface. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, including mechanical and chemical processes. A mechanical process involves polishing or buffing the surface to give it a smooth, shiny finish.
Other mechanical processes include acid etching and sandblasting to create a rougher finish. Chemical processes are used to give the surface an even texture, color, and chemical resistance. These processes involve the application of a release agent, chemical hardeners, colorants, and chemical sealers.
Different chemical products can be used to achieve a variety of commonly used concrete surface finishes, such as high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat. Depending on the requirement, the concrete surface finish can also be achieved through the application of decorative coatings, such as epoxies, urethanes, and stamped concrete.
What is rough concrete called?
Rough concrete is also known as exposed aggregate concrete, which is a type of concrete featuring an aggregate, such as pebbles, gravel or marble chips, that has been deliberately exposed. To create this type of concrete, the coarse aggregate is deliberately exposed after the sand and cement have been poured and smoothed.
This is achieved by washing off the surface layer to reveal the underlying aggregate, which can vary in colour and texture. This type of concrete is often used for decorative purposes in walkways, driveways and other outdoor areas as it can add texture and visual interest to the area.
It can also be used in interior spaces, as long as it is properly sealed with an appropriate sealer to protect it from moisture and other environmental conditions.
What is the cheapest way to finish a concrete floor?
The cheapest way to finish a concrete floor is to perform a basic polish. This involves grinding the surface of the concrete in order to remove any existing coatings or contaminants, followed by application of densifier and a chemical hardener.
After this process is completed, the concrete should be refinished with a densifier, sealer and wax. Depending on the size, complexity and condition of the concrete, this could be achieved with a hand grinder or a professional polishing machine.
It is important to remember to lightly moisten the concrete prior to grinding and polishing, as this can help prevent dust from the process. Additionally, to ensure the longevity of the finish, the floor should be resealed every 1-2 years.
How do you get a smooth finish on concrete?
To get a smooth finish on concrete, you’ll need to apply a float to the concrete after it is poured. Floats are made of a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and steel, and usually come in a form that looks like a rectangular plank.
After the concrete is poured, you should spread out the float in a sweeping motion, making sure that the float is flat against the surface of the concrete. This will help to even out any bumps or high spots while also packing the larger stones of the concrete together.
Once you’ve got the float in the desired place, you can use a trowel to smooth out the concrete surface even further. For a perfectly smooth finish, you will need to make multiple passes with the float, going over each section of the concrete several times to ensure that it’s level and even.
Once you’re satisfied with the concrete surface, you can use a sealer to help protect it and give it a long-lasting shine.
When should you texture concrete?
Concrete should be textured when it is still wet, as this can provide a more uniform finish. When texturing concrete, the material should be worked evenly and lightly, and then left to cure in a dry environment.
Before beginning, any ridges or rough patches should be leveled out with a trowel. If desired, an inconspicuous area can be tested before proceeding with the full application. The chosen texturing technique should always be practiced on a test area to ensure desired results.
Once complete, a concrete sealer should be applied to protect the surface and enhance the texture and color.
How do you describe the texture of a concrete?
The texture of concrete can be described as rough and grainy. The surface of the concrete may feel slightly coarse due to the aggregate in the mix of cement, water, and sand. It may also feel slightly bumpy that can be attributed to air pockets left in the material due to temperature and moisture fluctuations.
Unfinished concrete will feel even more coarse and uneven due to a lack of smoothing. Moisture can affect the feel of the concrete, with damp concrete feeling cold and slick, while dry concrete may be warm and rougher to the touch.
Additionally, the finishing method can completely change the texture. A troweled concrete surface will be much smoother than one that is left unfinished.
Why is concrete troweled?
The purpose of troweling concrete is to achieve a smooth, flat and dense surface. Troweling is done with a tool called a trowel, which is used to spread and smooth out the top layer of concrete before it has completely dried.
This is done to produce a hard, smooth surface that is resistant to wear and weathering. The trowel is also used for finishing concrete by creating light textures or patterns on the surface to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish.
Additionally, troweling helps to close the capillaries in the top layer of the concrete, reducing porosity and increasing the durability and strength of the surface. The troweling process should be done as soon as possible as it is easier to generate a uniform finish when the concrete is still soft.
With proper troweling techniques, a smooth and long-lasting concrete surface can be achieved.
Why do you power float concrete?
Power floating concrete is a finishing technique used to produce smooth and durable surfaces on concrete. The purpose of power floating is to flatten the surface of the concrete and eliminate high and low spots and imperfections as well as to densify the surface to make it more resistant to wear and abrasion.
Power floating can also be used to polish and harden the surface, creating a higher quality finished product with greater stain and abrasion resistance. Other benefits of power floating include improved strength and water resistance, increased traction, and improved energy efficiency due to reduced friction when walking on the surface.
Power floating can also be used to make a stylish, decorative feature of concrete floors and surfaces. Properly power floated surfaces are much easier to clean and maintain than unfinished surfaces. Power floating is generally carried out as the last step in the concrete finishing process and is best done a few days after the concrete has cured.
What is the difference between floating and troweling?
Floating and troweling are two common methods of laying concrete. Floating is a process that uses an internal vibrator to distribute cement, water, and sand evenly throughout a concrete mix before it is set.
The resulting mixture has a smoother, more uniform surface. Troweling is the process of working the surface of the concrete with a steel finishing trowel to produce a smooth, even surface. The troweling action also presses any air bubbles out of the concrete and helps to fill in any small voids or inconsistencies that show up in the surface.
Floating is a more efficient and faster way of laying concrete, while troweling takes more time and effort but provides a better finished surface.
