Hi all, I just poured a little (2 1/2 bags Sakrete High Early Strength, a little black dye, mixed with just enough water) step to go under a new front door & to an existing front stoop. I had hoped to get a nice hard steel trowel finish on it, but I ended up with a light brush finish because I couldn’t get the mix to trowel to a nice polish. Does anyone have any tricks for getting a polish finish on plain old Portland? Should I have used a different mix, added lime, more water??
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The best tool for straight, splinter-free cuts is made even better without a cord.
Featured Video
Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With ViewrailHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
the hard part is usually in the timing ....
too soon ... ya got a mess ...
too late ... ya got another kinda mess.
Gotta wait till the cream rises ... then work the cream slow enough to make it shiny ... but not so slow that it sets ...
that ... and it's all in the wrist.
and you "may" have needed just a dash more water with the powder dye ... maybe
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Your step will be less slippery but if you want a fine finish you have to work it up first with a float. Most use the magnesium type for hand work. I float right after screeding off the pour. Again later if needed. This levels the surface and works the fines to the top. As someone else said timing becomes the key. You can start to trowel anytime but lift it on and off on a stroke so you don't lift the cream layer off with the trowel. It will be evident if you are too early, the concrete should be firm but workable. When you touch the surface it should feel firm and dry but with a little pressure you can push your finger in about 1/8". If your mix was too dry the job gets much harder re: "just enough water". You don't want much edge on the trowel. Keep it fairly flat with light pressure. You need slightly more pressure on the heel to keep the tip up and not dig in. On steps and landings I use an edger and broom the surface for traction. There are companies that specialize in polishing concrete, they use diamond machines, the results rival marble.
Hey Hammer Are you a flat work pro? I got a couple of questions for you if you are?
No, I don't do it everyday anymore. We used to hand trowel a lot of floors, my back and blisters are happy to sub it out now. On the rare occasion I can't get someone I power trowel these days unless it is a small pad.
If the steel trowel edges are digging into the concrete, you need to "season" your trowel or whatever they call it in your neck of the woods.
You can accomplish this by placing a dime under the rivets that hold the handle to the flat steel and then striking just above the dime. Do this on each end of the trowel. This will keep the trowel edges from digging in so much when you're working that cream around for your final finish.