Guy Stuff thread: Concrete Polishing

concealer404
concealer404 Posts: 7,440
edited July 2010 in The Clubhouse
Has anyone done this? Anyone have any cool DIY guides?

Tips, tricks, or tell me to run away screaming?

Assume 1000+sq ft. Is this something that will make me wish i was dead if i tackle it? Seems a pro would charge $3-$6/sq ft. I'm not cool with that.
I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

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  • Pauly
    Pauly Posts: 4,519
    edited July 2010
    amazing what google finds for you

    http://www.ehow.com/way_5180367_do-yourself-concrete-floor-grinding.html

    :)

    Pauly
    Life without music would♭
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,726
    edited July 2010
    I think for a DIY'er, it would be easier to clean it with muriatic acid, then put down one of those epoxy coats that are smooth and shiny.

    Is this for a garage, or indoor area?
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    I already read that one. ;)

    Looking to be spoon fed to know what to watch out for so i don't screw up badly. :p

    Has anyone actually done this? Or paid someone to do it? (If you paid someone, what was the rate?)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

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    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    billbillw wrote: »
    I think for a DIY'er, it would be easier to clean it with muriatic acid, then put down one of those epoxy coats that are smooth and shiny.

    Looked into that, but can't verify yet if said 1000 sq ft of concrete has a moisture barrier or not. If it doesn't, epoxy will be a futile effort and a waste of time/money.

    My other concern is that from what i've seen, although it may have been due to crappy prep jobs, is that the coatings tend to chip or de-laminate when heavy objects are dropped on them, or when heavy things on casters roll over them.

    Plus polished looks awesome! :D

    I guess on the flip side, it's a garage floor, so who cares? :p
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

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    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

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  • PerfectCreature
    PerfectCreature Posts: 1,456
    edited July 2010
    My grandfather does this stuff, I gave him a call and he says its always a good thing to put a coat on concrete he said it lengthens the life of it by quite a bit. He said that he usually does touch up jobs every few years to keep it coated well. If you live in a moist area with lots of weather shifts it may be a good idea.
    I didn't have a chance to ask him of any tricks since he has to go away for a few days so maybe he will tell me when he gets back.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    PerfectCreature wrote: »
    My grandfather does this stuff, I gave him a call and he says its always a good thing to put a coat on concrete he said it lengthens the life of it by quite a bit. He said that he usually does touch up jobs every few years to keep it coated well. If you live in a moist area with lots of weather shifts it may be a good idea.
    I didn't have a chance to ask him of any tricks since he has to go away for a few days so maybe he will tell me when he gets back.

    Thanks!

    But... i'm not really asking about coating. I know how to do that. ;)

    I'm talking polishing... or "sanding" as some may call it. Use discs to sand/smooth it to a finish.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

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  • PerfectCreature
    PerfectCreature Posts: 1,456
    edited July 2010
    I don't know what he uses....I would imagine you could use like a buffer disc? I think that may have been what we used when we did our garage when I still lived at the house....
    It was kind of like the ones that you can use to wax a floor with but much bigger....
    I honestly do not remember it was some time ago...at least a 4 or 5 years since then.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    Would LOVE to have a finish like these:

    http://concretepolishing.com/
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited July 2010
    When you get it done. Give me call. I'll come over and do a big nasty burnout in it to break it in.;)




    Nik
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited July 2010
    Head over to http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/ and post this thread in the flooring section. Or just poke around over there.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    nikolas812 wrote: »
    When you get it done. Give me call. I'll come over and do a big nasty burnout in it to break it in.;)




    Nik

    Hey!!!!!! :D

    PM coming your way.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    nadams wrote: »
    Head over to http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/ and post this thread in the flooring section. Or just poke around over there.

    Oh cool! Yeah, i'll browse around there, thanks Noah!
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2010
    You could also post your question on the Fine Homebuilding and Journal of Light Construction sites and get some feedback. To polish concrete countertops I use 3M Trimite wet/dry sandpaper, starting with 120 grit and working up to 220 grit, using enough water to get a good slurry worked up. The mix I use for concrete countertops is much different than the 2000 to 4000 psi mix that should of been used for a garage floor.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited July 2010
    only thing I ever did was have to power wash concerte sidewalks and crap when I was a lifeguard early in the morning. PITA I thought. Good luck!
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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited July 2010
    Not trying to be a dream stomper here and prevent you from being as manly as possible but considering that you talk about working on your cars a lot and you say its a garage floor, I am having thoughts of a incredibly slick surface then you spilling some oil or something similar on it and you then busting your arse.

    REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    snow wrote: »
    Not trying to be a dream stomper here and prevent you from being as manly as possible but considering that you talk about working on your cars a lot and you say its a garage floor, I am having thoughts of a incredibly slick surface then you spilling some oil or something similar on it and you then busting your arse.

    REGARDS SNOW

    LOL! :D:p

    Good point, though. After looking at costs to rent the machinery and everything, it's probably just simpler, and way cheaper to just leave it as raw concrete, and just powerwash it every few months.

    Raw concrete is manly, anyways. ;)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited July 2010
    concealer404 wrote: »
    LOL! :D:p

    Good point, though. After looking at costs to rent the machinery and everything, it's probably just simpler, and way cheaper to just leave it as raw concrete, and just powerwash it every few months.

    Raw concrete is manly, anyways. ;)

    and I'm sure you'll be out there in a neon pink shirt with neon green pants singing to some golden oldies.....
    :p

    acutally when I saw it say Guy stuff and Polishing something...i got the wrong idea of what was going on...:eek:
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    and I'm sure you'll be out there in a neon pink shirt with neon green pants singing to some golden oldies.....
    :p

    acutally when I saw it say Guy stuff and Polishing something...i got the wrong idea of what was going on...:eek:

    Well... there WILL be a lot of work done to a Celica... which we all know is a "girl's car."
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited July 2010
    snow wrote: »
    Not trying to be a dream stomper here and prevent you from being as manly as possible but considering that you talk about working on your cars a lot and you say its a garage floor, I am having thoughts of a incredibly slick surface then you spilling some oil or something similar on it and you then busting your arse.

    REGARDS SNOW
    You are correct. The guys who did the concrete in my garage didn't even do a full polish, but it's still very smooth, and also very slippery whenever it gets wet. Which is all winter, with the snow melting off the cars.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2010
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    You are correct. The guys who did the concrete in my garage didn't even do a full polish, but it's still very smooth, and also very slippery whenever it gets wet. Which is all winter, with the snow melting off the cars.

    Alright, that sinks it, even though it's not THAT kind of garage. I appreciate the anecdote. :)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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