How to Refinish a Concrete Floor
Stained concrete floors can look every bit as elegant as natural stone. However, they need to be refinished every few years to keep them looking their best. This is a job the do-it-yourself homeowner can do. The use of an electric floor buffer to help remove the old finish makes the job go quickly. Once the old finish is removed, just re-stain and apply a sealer. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Chemical stripper for concrete floors
- Large paint brush
- Paint roller
- Floor buffing machine with scrub pad attachment
- Polyester string-type mop
- Concrete stain
- Large sponge
Instructions
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1
Sweep and vacuum the floor thoroughly.
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2
Apply stripper to floor using a large brush. Work on a small area at a time. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer as to how much product to apply. Allow the stripper to begin to break down the finish for a few minutes.
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3
Place the scrub pad on the floor buffer. Run the buffer over the wet area and agitate it into the concrete. You will notice some of the finish coming off onto the scrub pad.
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4
Mop off the excess stripper. Use a damp polyester string-type mop. Cotton can leave little bits on the floor that will mar the final finish.
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5
Go over the area again and repeat the steps if any of the finish remains.
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6
Allow the floor to dry for 12 to 24 hours before applying stain or sealer.
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Stain to add color. Use water-based wood or concrete stain. Use a large sponge to apply the stain. Begin in areas with scratches or other damage not buffed out with the floor buffer to build up enough stain to make the damaged areas blend in with the rest of the floor. Daub the floor with the sponge and wipe off excess with a damp mop or lint-free cloth.
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Allow the stain to dry the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.
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Apply sealer using a paint roller. Start in the far corner of the room and roll on just as though you were painting a wall. Take care not to roll over areas where you've already applied sealer. This will help to avoid roller marks. Use a large paintbrush to trim the edges of the floor.
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Allow the sealer to dry for 24 hours before allowing light foot traffic. Do not drag or move heavy furniture or appliances over the floor for at least a week to avoid marring the finish.
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Tips & Warnings
This method can be used to restore a concrete floor to look brand new by going over each area 2 or 3 times. Floor buffers are available to rent at rental centers and home improvement stores.
