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Big, Rock Hard, and Slick (Concrete, …

| Posted in General Discussion on July 6, 2001 01:45am

*
My brother and I installed 3,500 psi concrete patio slab on a cool morning. Did the standard practices of leveling and smoothing the surface, and maintaining a damp surface for curing the concrete. At the end of the project, my brother applied a broom finish, and I told my brother that I wanted it a fairly rough non-skid surface; and he told me that this was plently and to trust him. Well, I just had my next door neighbor take a fall, and he is one of many. Even a little moisture picked-up from the grass and your shoes or barefeet are on ice when you hit the concrete.

I went to Home Depot to buy Muriatic Acid to dilute and then mist the surface to eat away at the cement. The staff at Home Depot told me to get a concrete brick and use it to sand the surface. Being stupid and trusting, I did, … and did a great job of smoothing the face of the brick. Still have the problem. Anybody have any easy suggestions to rough-up the surface or solve this challange. If I have to, I’ll install Mexican Pavers or something over the existing slab. So far, no broken hips or heads, but the time is coming when my luck will runout. i have got to do something now.

Todd

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  1. Mike_Smith | Jul 06, 2001 12:01am | #1

    *
    todd.. a broom finish should have been fine.. sort of a standard sidewalk finish ? if it's smoother than that , he may not have use a stiff enough broom..

    the concrete brick only served to smooth the surface...

    try the muriatic acid at a different strength.. you can get it in 5%.. all the way to 20%.. but be careful... the 20% can give you a good burn..

    brush it on.. let it set...then hose it off..

    try a test section... about 6x6...trouble is .. 3500 psi is good string concrete.. at this point you want to expose some of the aggregate....

    .. i think you can save this.. either mechanically (rent a concrete floor grinder to put scored lines in it ) or chemically, with the etching...

    this happens a lot in commercial floors where they become too smooth and treacherous....

    1. Gabe_Martel | Jul 06, 2001 12:18am | #2

      *Broom finish should have done the job but if you need a rougher finish you may have to apply an epoxy coating or any one of the concrete toppings with a broom an make it as rough as you want.Gabe

      1. Cloud_Hidden | Jul 06, 2001 12:25am | #3

        *Is there such a thing as a sealer that you can mix with sand or other aggregate and roll on? I thought I've heard of such a beast, but I don't know fur sure.

        1. Luka_ | Jul 06, 2001 12:56am | #4

          *Don't sand the surface of the concrete with that brick, beat it !b : )

          1. Ron_Teti | Jul 06, 2001 01:45am | #5

            *Todd,Your first mistake was going to home stinko, Go to a building mat'l yard and Im sure they have some topping you can apply ,rough up and solve your problem. Not sure but you may have to mix in some concrete adhesive also with the topping mix. But the next problem will be how to get rid of the neighbors : ) its good to finally see your name here.

  2. [email protected] | Jul 06, 2001 01:45am | #6

    *
    My brother and I installed 3,500 psi concrete patio slab on a cool morning. Did the standard practices of leveling and smoothing the surface, and maintaining a damp surface for curing the concrete. At the end of the project, my brother applied a broom finish, and I told my brother that I wanted it a fairly rough non-skid surface; and he told me that this was plently and to trust him. Well, I just had my next door neighbor take a fall, and he is one of many. Even a little moisture picked-up from the grass and your shoes or barefeet are on ice when you hit the concrete.

    I went to Home Depot to buy Muriatic Acid to dilute and then mist the surface to eat away at the cement. The staff at Home Depot told me to get a concrete brick and use it to sand the surface. Being stupid and trusting, I did, ... and did a great job of smoothing the face of the brick. Still have the problem. Anybody have any easy suggestions to rough-up the surface or solve this challange. If I have to, I'll install Mexican Pavers or something over the existing slab. So far, no broken hips or heads, but the time is coming when my luck will runout. i have got to do something now.

    Todd

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