How easy or feasible to prepare concrete for seamless floor?

[Sprogginz]

My desire is to turn this:

Untitled

• Sprogginz
• 6 Apr 2015
• 1

into something like this:

Untitled

• Sprogginz
• 6 Apr 2015
• 1

I have been looking into this for a while now because it's really something I would love to do, the shiny seamless look. Unfortunately I feel that I am none the wiser because I've been receiving conflicting advice from 'It's too difficult for a DIYer' to 'Just wash with acid, then roll down some epoxy paint'.

To get it professionally done will cost about £3-5k. That's just too expensive for me for 25sqm.

I am hoping that it is a case of putting some screed or other form of self-leveling compound down without the need to hire a machine to grind the surface first to remove tile adhesive residue etc. Then simply roll on some epoxy paint. I know paint isn't same real epoxy but if the result is similar then I'd be happy.

If anyone knows how to do something like this and can offer their services then that would be great too - I live in Essex.

Ultimately, the main reason for this thread is to find out if it's too difficult for a DIYer but if it's possible then what are essential steps to achieve the result?

Hopefully you can get a good idea from the photo but if you need to know anything else then please let me know. I really would like to do this but if it's just too difficult or expensive then I'll just have to move onto something like laminate. I was also thinking of tiles as a compromise but doesn't that involve having to put down some screed anyway?

If it's way more difficult than laying laminate or tiles then please say so!

Thanks very much and would really appreciate any advice you can give me on this.

 

[noseall]

You can achieve some pretty good finishes on freshly laid concrete by means of power-float and a lot of hard work.

I do believe certain (specialist) mixes of concrete will yield a polished surface but this is achievable by specialist polishing and wet grinding the surface and is applicable to concrete work-tops etc.

You will not get the results you are after by using any levelling compounds nor is it very likely that you do anything with your existing finish.

I can't see you getting anywhere near to the surface in the image, especially on a budget.

 

[Sprogginz]

Thanks very much.

You've basically summed up the overall consensus I'm getting....unfortunately!

A plan B is to put some big tiles down although I'm wondering if I have to hire an orbital grinder regardless, to remove the very thin tile adhesive residue on parts of the existing concrete. Will it be okay if I leave it as it is or does this residue have to come off if I want to put down large tiles?

Thanks again.

 

[IJWS15]

That looks like an old house to me, carpet may be the only floor insulation it had and polishing the concrete, or tiling, might leave you with a very cold floor.