polished concrete...... not quite.

[kiwipaul]

A recent attempt to lay a concrete screed went wrong somehow. My girlfriend and I saw some polished concrete in a museum and wanted to recreate the effect in our kitchen. I dunno what happened, I have not much experience in laying concrete and I suspect my mixture was too much sand and not enough cement. The surface, far from being smooth and tough is more like the surface of the moon, scratchy and pitted and when you rub it with your hand you can feel it eroding.
I've already had one disaster with self levelling compound and we're running out of money so tearing it all up is a bit out of the question. Is there a product which I can put over the top which will seal it, provide a smooth surface and still allow us to see the concrete underneath. ie; like a clear resin or something similar to wood varnish but for concrete?

 

[petewood]

concrete-coloured lino?

 

[kevplumb]

dont put so much water in it

 

[TexMex]

What you want is a concrete dustproofer and hardner. This will bond any excess cement and form a solid surface. This is the type of thing but there are plenty of alternative manufacturers. Pop down your local builders merchant and ask for a concrete dustproofer and hardner and see what they have.

 

[kiwipaul]

thanks so much tex. i saw a product in wickes called surface hardener so i'll get that.

 

[Nige F]

Polished concrete....like in a milking parlour Sure it wasn`t a resin floor with stones set in it