smoothing rough concrete hangar floor?

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 09:48:51 -0400,
wrote:

On 15 Aug 2005 22:34:35 -0700, wrote:

We put in a concrete hangar floor and the finish is less than
desirable. There are patches where it's recessed (about 1/8"- 1/4"
recessed and rough) and then other areas where it's rough and proud
(about 1/8") with swirl marks.

That's a lot more than I'd expect for a "broom finish".


Is there anything we can do to mechanically smooth this? Do they make
a big sander for concrete and how well does it work?

There is a product called "ARDEX" that was used inside to smooth out a
rough finished concrete floor. It's fairly easy to use in that you
mix it and then simply pour over the floor allowing it to settle in
and level out. When it cures, the surface is smooth.

One thing to remember when using this kind of product. The floor
needs to be very close to level over all. You definitely will find
the high and low spots.

When I acid etched the shop floor and then pressure washed it I found,
contrary to what was supposed to be) the low spot was centered on the
south wall instead of at the East end at the large door. Still the
floor must be within a 1/4" over all. I don't consider that bad for a
28 X 40 foot floor.


It was used inside an occupied building and did not have much of an
odor to it.

The two part epoxy garage/shop floor finish not only smells, but it's
bad for you and it's explosive.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Corky Scott

wrote:
On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 04:13:43 -0400, Roger
wrote:

On 15 Aug 2005 22:34:35 -0700, wrote:

We put in a concrete hangar floor and the finish is less than
desirable. ...
Is there anything we can do to mechanically smooth this? Do they make
a big sander for concrete and how well does it work?

...



There is. It's called a Terrazo grinder. Or is it terazzo.No, it's
Terrazzo. Anyway - it does exist. Terco and Oztec are two names.
Check local concrete and flooring contractors - most of the good ones
around here are either Italian or Portugese.

Yes, I saw one of these used on _This Old House_. Memory fades
but it looks and was being used like a floor buffer on a wet
surface. Looked to be a very slow process too, they didn't have
a very large area to smooth and level.

Smoothing is one thing, to level the floor you need to establish
some sort of reference plane to check the floor against. A laser
level might be good for that.

Concrete is much easier to smooth and level when it's still wet.

--

FF