Flooring options and removing brush finish

[absgraham]

Brand new to the forum, hoping to benefit from the experts here. Just recently purchased a new home, but the builder refused to provide a smooth finish garage floor. I wanted to pursue an epoxy floor with gloss finish, but now am faced with removing the brushed finish off the concrete. At our last home I used an 2 part system with flakes and while the durability was OK the finish was terrible over the same type of brushed concrete surface - no shine and none of the flakes stuck.

Can I use a parging type cement and try to "bury" the brush ridges or am I faced with paying to grind it all out? Floor has about a 2% grade and is a small double 18' x 20'. Anyone else face this? Are there better flooring options for the finish I want?

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

You need a diamond grinder.
Like this:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFRUe9xljZ-/?taken-by=legacyindustrial

 

[8mpg]

I just did my garage (carport converted) and it was a broom finish. Edco diamond grinder from Home Depot... worked like a champ. It was $68 I believe to rent and I was done in 2-3 hours. My garage was 18'x20'.

 

[absgraham]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into a grinder rental and add that to the cost estimate for an epoxy finish.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Definitely diamond grinder to the rescue!