Ardex or other similar self leveling cementitous mixes can be applied and poured on to the surface and then ground afterwords just like regular concrete to get a smooth shine.
Use a detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water to brighten a concrete patio that hasn't been cleaned in a while. Just as you would regularly vacuum the floor and dust your furniture inside your house, you should keep your patio clean so it's ready at a moment's notice to entertain.
If you want concrete that truly sparkles and shines, put some glass in the mix. Glass aggregate can replace part or all of the sand and gravel in concrete, for effects that range from colorful terrazzo, to granite- or marble-like finishes, to concrete that reflects light like a mirror.
Popular options for floor covering over concrete floors include vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, hardwood flooring, epoxy coating, and linoleum.
If you're looking for a way to completely cover or erase imperfections in your concrete floors, your best bet is to have an epoxy applied. Epoxy has come a long way over the years.
Vinyl planks and tiles are one of the most cost-effective flooring options for installing directly over concrete or with a felt underlay. Vinyl flooring is manufactured from linoleum and is a practical, water-resistant option.
Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete
Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface. If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish.
As we noted earlier, concrete sealers produce a very smooth surface on top of the concrete once it has fully cured, which gives your driveway valuable resistance to water, oil, and stains.
Resurfacing a driveway will extend its lifespan. Adding an overlay above the existing concrete makes it incredibly durable so it can withstand its usual daily pounding from vehicles, foot traffic and harsh weather.
The best way to get stamped concrete over existing concrete is a stampable overlay. Stampable overlays are a thick overlay capable of accepting texture from stamps. These overlays are much thicker than microtoppings but not as much as a self-leveling overlay.
Slabs with none to minimal cracks, blemishes, and other flaws are ideal for staining. Stains enhance the appearance of the surface; they don't conceal defects. Applying it to flawed concrete will not hide its imperfections, nor will it mask the original color or texture of the surface.
Though you can pour concrete over concrete, it's not always advisable. Sometimes, there are benefits. But in several cases, you're better off removing the old concrete before pouring a new layer.
To achieve a high-gloss finish on concrete, you can either polish the surface with the appropriate diamond tooling or you can use a quality high-gloss concrete sealer.
Dish soap and water: Dish soap is a degreaser, and it works well to clean oily and grimy concrete. Create a cleaning solution of warm water and few drops of dish soap and apply it to the surface. Let it sit for a while, then mop the patio and rinse it with fresh water. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
Acid staining is a process of adding color and pattern to a concrete surface by applying a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and a metallic salt to the surface. This chemical reaction etches the surface of the concrete and produces a mottled, marbled appearance.
While the advantages outweigh the negatives, there are some disadvantages that you should keep in mind before sealing your concrete driveway. Sealant can make the surface slippery. Sealants tend to dry down with a glossy or semi-glossy sheen that can be quite slick, especially when wet.
An unsealed concrete floor is going to be more reactive and sensitive to changes in temperature. It will freeze in cold climates and expand in warm ones. This can cause crumbling, chipping, and cracking.