First off I am a framer and have no business going near concrete.
This week I had the neighbors brother pour and finish.a driveway extension and a section of patio . The driveway addition is great, can’t wait to get the truck on it and out of the street. Broomed finish will be great for winter traction.
The patio, where my three gurlz and I will spend a fair amount of time, has a rough broomed finish. Is there any way to get this smoothed down to a more barefoot friendly surface?
Jim and the Gurlz wantin’ to go barefoot on the patio
Replies
It is still curing right now so get right out there start wacking it down while it is soft. You might be able to wet it and trowel but I tend to doubt that in this heat. Probably get you r ice scraper out of the shed again, wet the crete and pretend you are scraping the ice off of it. That will take the sharpest edges off.
You may have to set a grinder on it, but that would be last choice because of the dust.
Excellence is its own reward!
Once over lightly with a concrete stone, then mix cement and 200# silica into thick paste. about 2 sant to 1 cement. About a coffee can at a time. With a black grout float, start rubbing the paste into the surface. really burn it in, rub till satisfied. heheheowowowow. use masking tape to give clean lines at interface of smooth to broom finishes.
Keep the concrete stone handy to knock down any bumps/pebbles that get in the way. On dry hot day, use plastic mister to dampen slab where working before floating.
This will give you a soft, uniform, and reasonably nonskid surface that feels good to the footsies.
If you float the slab while the crete is still green the skim coat will not delaminate/flake.
SamT
We had our driveway, that was broom finished, acid etched. It took all of the broom lines out and it has a nice smooth texture finish to it. Looks great! Wasn't around to see the process, but I know that they used a buffer and a black pad underneath it to even out the etch. I don't know the muratic acid mix used either, but it must have been strong. Then they pressure washed the driveway to the drains. Very little plant damage along the driveway edges. GW
Greg, long time no see! How are you? How's the new house?
I like the acid etching idea ok, but do it carefully. I watched someone do that one day clearing a mis-applied sealer and try to spread on more than they should have, and in the delay in washing it off, ate away the top layer of concrete down to the aggregate. That sucked.
Jim,
Get a couple concrete blocks.
Convince the girls that concrete block drag racing is all the current rage.
Enough trips back and forth on that patio, and you'll still have texture left to keep from slipping, but enough gone to be comfortable to the tootsies.
A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
Quittin' Time
Hey guys!
thanks for the suggestions.
Piffin, I got right on yours and it was met with approval by Mom and the two little ones. Mom even grabbed the shovel (don't have an ice scraper) and rubbed the crete for a spell.
Luka, your suggestion has great potential. What size block do you recommend for a four year old and her eight year old sister.
The other suggestions are appreciated as well. Due to the fact they require chemicals and mixing stuff, I'll leave those to the professionals if it comes to that.
Again thanks from us and our feet.