Getting a nice concrete finish.

[Screech20]

Hey guys,

I'll soon be laying a concrete slab for my garage / workshop.

Today i've been thinking that it would be nice to have a smooth, painted finish.

I've concreted before, but only for shed bases and a driveway, which just got left rough/ribbed from the tamping.

So once it's levelled and tamped, what's the best way for me to get a good finish - probably once it's set, as hand troweling isn't going to be something for me to try!

Cheers.

 

[kbdiy]

as hand troweling isn't going to be something for me to try!

Why not?

 

[Blagard]

Watch the video - use a bull float

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTdtfySImio

 

[Norcon]

His final finish on that was an aluminium float which is an average finish. You can go one step further with a steel blade.
But still a long way from a power floated finish which on a slab like that you would follow up after the aluminium bull floating.

An average sized garage is easily hand floated to a reasonable finish by someone experienced.

 

[Screech20]

Thanks for the suggestions.

As for why not, because I believe I would royally mess that up as I think it's a skill, like plastering?
Or is a bull float pretty easy? I can see myself getting lines in it where one pass has more weight/pressure than the other...

Cheers

 

[Norcon]

Yes you will get lines but you keep working them down as the slab sets.
Its difficult to eliminate them completely though.

That's where the power float comes in.

 

[Screech20]

Ok thanks, maybe it'll be worth giving it a go on the log cabin base that'll be going down first.

Any ideas where to get one for a decent price, going to need a few times so might pay for itself by the time I've hired..?


Cheers

 

[Norcon]

E bay is full of them.