Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Decorative concrete floors are gaining popularity as an alternative to tiles or natural stone. Cracked concrete floors in a room, basement or garage should be concreted to prevent corrosion. When the concrete floor is colored, it is especially important to seal the cracks so that the color is preserved. You can choose from a matte or glossy finish. This article gives an idea of ​​how to properly properly compact concrete floors in your home or garage.

Steps

1. 1 Remove everything from the room you want to concrete. This is not a project in which you can divide the area into sectors.
2. 2 Detach the skirting board from the wall using a pry bar or putty knife. Insert carefully a pry bar or putty knife and pull slowly to avoid splitting or breaking the skirting board.
3. 3 Collect any debris that remains on the floor. Dirt, dust, dead bugs, nails, and other materials must be completely removed to prepare concrete floors for sealing.
4. 4 Open windows and doors in the room for good ventilation.
5. 5 Degrease the concrete floor using a degreaser. The degreaser will remove any oils, even those that have been spilled onto the concrete floor before. Simply mix the mortar according to package directions (usually by diluting in a bucket of water) and spread over the concrete floor with a brush or mop.
6. 6 Use a wire brush to scrub particularly oily areas to remove grease from the concrete.
7. 7 Wipe the concrete surface with a mop. Just use clean water and squeeze out the mop repeatedly until the degreaser or any dirt and debris is removed.
8. 8 Let the entire surface dry completely. This process can take up to 24 hours. You can speed up this process by placing a hairdryer and fan heaters blowing on the concrete surface.
9. 9 Fill cracks or crevices with quick-drying concrete filler. This guarantees a completely flat surface before laying the tiles. Simply squeeze the filler into the cracks and smooth with a smooth trowel.
10. 10 Let the concrete cure dry for a few hours as directed on the package.
11. 11 Pour a small amount of sealant into the paint tray.
12. 12 Apply the sealant evenly to the floor.
    • Use a brush to first apply the sealant around the edges of the room.
    • Use an oversized paint roller to seal the rest of the room floor. Work from the extreme corner of the room to the exit so you don't get trapped.
13. 13 Allow the sealant sufficient time to dry. Usually 12 to 24 hours. Again, this process can be accelerated with fan heaters or building hair dryers.
14. 14 Attach the baseboard back to the wall and arrange the furniture in the room.

Tips

• Depending on how greasy the surface is, you can repeat the degreasing of the floor a couple of times before repairing the cracks.
• Repeat the patching process every 5 years for optimum longevity of concrete floors.
• If you decide to apply a solvent-based paint or decorative pattern to the concrete surface, this should be done after the cracks have been repaired, as the applied paint must dry completely.

Warnings

• Before repairing cracks in concrete floors, wear rubber gloves, long pants, a long shirt, and construction goggles, as the degreaser is irritating to the skin.

What do you need

• Pry bar
• Broom
• Scoop
• Degreaser
• Ladle
• Wire brush
• Mop
• Fast drying crack filler
• Putty knife
• Concrete sealant
• Paint tray
• Brush
• Roller
• A hammer
• Nails