Best way to make a rough concrete floor smooth

[Zaffer]

I have an existing garage floor that has a brushed finish on it and I was wondering what I can do to make it smooth. It looks like when the floor was poured, they used a push broom to finish it for a rough/textured surface. While I like the floor if it gets wet, it would be nice to have a smooth floor for working on my vehicles and using the jack/creeper more easily. I’ve read some on renting a grinder for prepping a floor to coat, but would this work to smooth it? I realize I’m not going to get a polished surface, but would like a smooth(er) surface.

Concrete was poured in 1994 and unsure how thick it is.

Any advice would be great!

Wasn’t sure if I should post here or in the flooring section.

 

[In The Doghouse]

That is really rough for an interior floor. I believe it can be ground pretty smooth but don’t have the experience doing so.
Will watch what others say.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Easiest & least mess: self-leveling compound.

Apply primer with brush, then pour the self-leveling compound.

Grinding is obviously possible, but if not done with the right setup/tools - it’s one big mess and never going to be anything close to level. You either want a dry setup with dust extraction or do it wet.

No matter what you decide to do, you want the garage/ floor space empty.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[The Cobbler]

rent a (probably a 10" or 12") concrete grinder with a hepa filter vacuum and be prepared for a bit of a workout

 

[Zaffer]

I’m not expecting it to be perfectly smooth and it’s not perfectly level, either. My concern with self-leveling is I’d be afraid it wouldn’t hold up, but I have VERY limited experience with it.

The space is 12’x22’ as the other half of the garage is keep rough for now as that will be my main engine rebuild/parts cleaning area for a little bit. I’ve never used a grinder before, but always willing to learn. How similar is it to a floor sander? I’ve used a concrete polisher before, but that was 28 years ago

 

[jack stand]

Having a concrete grinding service give you a ballpark price would be a big part of my decision on how to proceed.
Explain your desired results for your 12'x22' broom finished slab.
You don't seem super picky (4 letter word to contractors) about being re contoured and made level, just knock off the majority of the broom texture.
You can't "un grind" this if you try this yourself. The grinder doesn't care if you're experienced or not.
I've learned by watching the other trades on the job for decades, that even the simplest of jobs are made to look simple by someone with some experience.

 

[JuncleJohn]

I couldn’t imagine laying on that floor while working under a vehicle. Not to mention how much better a smooth floor will be to sweep clean.

I suggest grinding the entire floor.

John

 

[Zaffer]

Jack stand,

I mainly want it smoother so things will roll more smoothly across the floor. I usually use at least cardboard to lay on while under a car, so me laying on it is not as much of an issue, however sliding under a car quickly isn’t happening.

I just wasn’t sure if a grinder would knock it smooth, but I don’t mind learning on the “job”

 

[JunkBonds]

I have been thinking epoxy floor for my garage with the swept finish.

 

[marak]

What about a product like Mapei Planipatch? I found it to be a pleasure to work with and have had great results with it for leveling out a basement floor that is used as a woodworking shop. I epoxied it afterwards and even with metal casters under the cabinet saw there are no signs of wear.

 

[Burt Shaver]

My concern with self-leveling is I’d be afraid it wouldn’t hold up, but I have VERY limited experience with it.

I don’t think it would hold up either

 

[Zaffer]

I have been thinking epoxy floor for my garage with the swept finish.

I was considering this for a while, but apparently there are better products out there? I’ll have to do more research on that. For right now, a smooth floor would be nice…..

 

[Mikes61]

The guy that just polyurea coated my 960 sq ft garage floor used one of those floor cleaners with carbide sanding bits in it before he painted. He was done smoothing the floor in an hour.
The floor cleaner looked like what they use in the supermarket late at night to polish the linoleum floors.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Best way would be to grind it down

I would call a company to do it, renting the right size machine can be pricy

 

[Hank11]

Try a floor machine with a Scotchbrite pad. If it looks good do the whole thing and get it over with.

 

[allinon72]

Brushed finish = prepped for epoxy, that's the route I would go. Grinding concrete never turns out like you'd expect. It exposes the aggregate and gives the appearance something went wrong.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Try a floor machine with a Scotchbrite pad. If it looks good do the whole thing and get it over with.

I don’t think a scotch bright pad is going to cut that concrete smooth

 

[drmarkr]

Porcelain tiles.....nothing better!!!!

 

[Zaffer]

Porcelain tiles.....nothing better!!!!

That makes me think of the “clinker” tiles we had at the BMW dealership. Not a bad idea, actually…..

 

[drmarkr]

That makes me think of the “clinker” tiles we had at the BMW dealership. Not a bad idea, actually…..

Properly installed, harder than cement. And buddy.....there is NOTHING nicer than lying down to work on your vehicles on tile!!

 

[Hank11]

I don’t think a scotch bright pad is going to cut that concrete smooth

I have not tried it, but I will this fall when the heat breaks. I asked my concrete floor finish guy about what I wanted, which is to knock off the coarsest part of a broom finished porch before applying a sealer. After we talked about it a bit, that was his answer. It won’t make it smooth like grinding, but it will take lots of the roughness down. Think about brand new rough sandpaper compared to worn out sandpaper. This comes from a guy who makes his living grinding and finishing concrete.

 

[Hank11]

Grinding will smooth it for sure. I would hire it done.

 

[CMB41]

Grind it. Costco grinds their floors to an 800 grit finish out here In CA. I hired the actual guy who does the Costcos. Great experience and result. That was 10 yrs ago at $3.00 a sqft “friends and family“ pricing. Two guys to do 1800 ft in 2 days. No idea what it costs now. Would 100% do it again. YMMV

 

[bornbadbob]

I would have it tiled with porcelain tiles, they look great, very durable and way easier than grinding