If it does then it will take more material to fill in the space between stones and that will affect the skim coat concrete overlay cost. The evidence does not support this. The sand is made from thousands of tiny pieces of rock in almost all cases. Concrete with a decorative overlay typically ranges in price from $7 to $12 per square foot while stamped concrete costs $8 to $20. As the overlay gets thicker, you need to increase the size of the sand being used. Apply the Concrete Mix. A: Unsightly concrete is an increasingly common problem, if my incoming email is any indication. Skim Coat Resurfacing and Broom Finishes. To get this stucco to bond permanently to the spalled concrete, the old concrete must be clean and solid, with all the loose concrete chipped away. De-icing salts can damage weak concrete just like the big bad wolf blew down the straw house made by the little pig. Some contractors who specialize in vertical work have developed their own wall mixes based on tried-and-true formulas. roll on layer of bonding agent and smooth. Above the countertop and kitchen area is a stream that is surrounded by lush plantings. Concrete is simply artificial rock. Q: I’ve got problems with some of the concrete on the outside of my home as well as in my garage. Next is whether there is anything on the floor that has to be removed before we start the overlay process. We can even fill those scored lines with grout so that they are also level with the floor instead of being slightly below it. Next, simply pour then spread with a long handled squeegee. You undoubtedly have seen lots of concrete sidewalks, floors and patios that have had de-icing salt spread on them for years, and yet there's no spalling. Perfect! The Portland cement is powdered rock, primarily limestone and shale. What options can affect a skim coat concrete overlay cost? Roll on a layer of bonding agent. ; anything that might prevent the skim coat material from bonding tightly to the concrete needs to be removed. Imagine how good it looks. It's supposed to be maintenance-free for the most part, right? A number of tools and materials are available to do-it-yourselfers that, in most cases, make skim coating preferable to demolishing and replacing old, damaged concrete. How to Skim Coat Concrete Blocks. For a slip … If your patio, driveway, or other concrete slab is falling apart and losing its appeal then you need to give it a facelift. You hope the epoxy will hold and won’t peel in places. Flo-Coat Resurfacer-65450007 - The Home Depot He was overly paranoid concerned that the concrete skim coat would crack if there was any flex in the countertops (especially our breakfast bar, which has a 12″ overhang). Finally, the concrete may not have been cured immediately after the finishing process ended. We are Seattle based specialty contractors offering a variety of decorative concrete and epoxy coating services to resurface old, stained or damaged concrete. Thank you for visiting our Skim Coat Concrete Overlay Cost page. Why would you resurface concrete? A skim coat overlay is a great option for exterior floors such as patios, sidewalks, driveways, and porches that may need some minor repair or if you are trying to “tie in” newer and older concrete that looks different. This type of product will be clearly labeled as "concrete resurfacer" rather than "floor leveler." A very important step, taught to me by a very old and wise concrete mason decades ago, is to apply a very thin coat of cement paint to the old concrete before applying the stucco. A number of tools and materials are available to do-it-yourselfers that, in most cases, make skim coating preferable to demolishing and replacing old, damaged concrete. The basis behind the application is to repair/restore/resurface pitted, flaked, deteriorated or poorly finished concrete that would otherwise need to be torn out and replaced. And it is inexpensive. The cost of resurfacer for a two-car garage is typically less than $200. Once the moisture blocker has dried Ardex CD Fine can be used to skim coat the entire garage floor surface. How would you repair all the other wretched concrete outdoors? Concrete overlays can range in thickness from 1/8-inch to two inches. The only ingredient that's not rock is water. DIY Overlay Concrete Countertops [Modern Builds] Before applying QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer, prepare the old concrete surface so that the renewing layer can properly adhere to it. Also, water added during the finishing process can dilute the amount of Portland cement in the top layer of the concrete. Why is that? Subscribe to Tim's free newsletter and listen to his new podcasts. A skim coat overlay resurfaces your existing concrete with a flat, thin layer of new concrete and this fills in and covers up small cracks, holes, scratches, stains, and other minor imperfections. It’s worse in some areas than others. A slab that is structurally sound but has a powdery surface, is beginning to flake off, or has lots of hair line cracks can easily be fixed. This is an application most concrete contractors would like to believe is possible, yet still have a high level of pessimism towards the success and long term durability of the application. Even though our skim coats always have color mixed in with them staining will create even more color variations throughout. Once the overlay approaches 3/4-inch in thickness, you can introduce pea gravel about the size of a pencil eraser. If there are visible cracks then we need to fill them in before applying the overlay so that there is a reduced possibility they will reappear. Skim Coating Concrete Floors FAQ Can you skim coat concrete? The new coat follows the contours of your existing flooring creating a new, relatively flat surface. See our Sure Broom product for more information. New concrete is so much easier to stain than old concrete. You can even skim coat old concrete. Nationally, the average cost for concrete resurfacing is $3 to $10 per square foot, depending on the condition of the original concrete and local labor costs.For smaller projects, some contractors charge a flat fee of at least $500 to $1,000. From what I’ve read, a concrete skim-coat would transform my laminate without having to remove or rebuild the counters. Applying concrete microtopping over tile floor Some microtoppings come pretinted, offering a wide range of colors, while others can be custom tinted by mixing in different amounts of coloring agents. The last two choices are mostly cosmetic. The results were amazing and the judges for the Decorative Concrete Council in the American Society of Concrete Contractors agreed; The Magid countertop won 1st Place for Concrete Countertops at the 2009 World of Concrete. If you are fully resurfacing a concrete slab, make sure to use a resurfacer designed for the purpose, such as Flo-Coat Concrete Resurfacer from Sakrete, Concrete Resurfacer from Quickrete, or Re-Cap Resurfacer, also from Quickrete. Spritz the old concrete with a little water to make it damp before applying the cement paint. Keep the material wet to provide additional moisture for the concrete to absorb. Skim coating weak concrete is only a temporary fix. Skim coating can freshen up old concrete blocks and give your home or a wall on your property a new look. Bag of vertical concrete mix from Flex-C-Ment. How to skim coat concrete Microtoppings are easily applied with trowels, squeegees, brushes, or rollers, depending on the desired look. There are lots of places where the top finish and layer of the concrete has eroded away. SAKRETE 20 lb. Now, a word on epoxy coatings: Think about a new concrete garage floor for a minute. There are many facets of overlay or wear surface toppings to discuss if a slab is a candidate for self-leveling, smoothing compounds, isolated patching or skim coating. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Discussion of news topics with a point of view, including narratives by individuals regarding their own experiences. Another option is to lay a thicker overlay and slow-dry the new surface. Polymer cement overlays are used for interior and exterior applications ranging from: •Skim coat/broom finish concrete is resurfacing – Restore and protect damaged, pitted, flaking and stained concrete back to the look of a new concrete surface. Just make sure you clean the surface well before applying the new concrete coat. The reason that concrete survived the de-icing salts is that it was mixed, placed, finished and cured properly. You just mix up some sand, a little hydrated lime and Portland cement and trowel this onto the concrete. Upgrade Your Countertops with a Skim Coat Overlay of Concrete. Apply concrete overlay and allow to dry for 3-6 hours or until the overlay turns into a light gray color. Here are just a few things that can go wrong with concrete that can cause spalling and cause the surface to flake off: The concrete can be mixed with too little Portland cement, or too much water can be added. The first coat is the primer and the second coat is the sealer, sand is broadcast into the second coat so any topping material will bond to it. Concrete overlays can range in thickness from 1/8-inch to two inches. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of installing concrete. You can repair and resurface your spalled concrete in any number of ways. Resurfacing breathes new life into … Concrete “resurfacer” is a cement-based coating that forms a smooth, new surface right over the old concrete. Concrete Resurfacing & Micro-Topping Photos. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Easy peasy DIY concrete countertops over my laminate counters. (Some sand is crushed seashells, but this is rare.) It will look like a hot mess, but don't get nervous. I think it’s called spalling. Yes! They look marvelous in my opinion. You need the water to ignite the chemical reaction that transforms the powdered Portland cement back into solid rock again. We hope this skim coat concrete overlay cost estimator helps in your decision making process, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a quote. To learn more about East Coast Decorative Concrete and flooring options go to the “Our Services” tab in the menu bar. Concrete skim coats can put down as a new canvas for concrete acid stain, or a concrete dye. To mix the thin finish skim coat, use a mixing paddle and heavy duty mixing drill … Chris was not sold on the durability or strength. I figured concrete counters would fit those constraints. It’s applied straight on top of the laminate in troweled-on layers. The larger it is the lower the cost per square foot. First, let’s make sure you are using the right estimator for your project; below the estimator is a quick primer on skim coat overlays. Apply a second skim coat and smooth with a squeegee trowel to … You hope you’ll do everything right during the installation process — a process you’ve never done before, I might add! Vertical Concrete Mix for Resurfacing Walls Discover the best vertical mixes for skim coating a concrete wall Updated August 11, 2020. How to install a concrete driveway or sidewalk that will last, DIY tips on repairing a battered old garage. The larger premixed bagged concrete manufacturers make these, as do some other specialty companies. Three of the 4 ingredients in basic concrete are or were rock at one point. Use the squeegee to … If you would like, we can score (cut) the skim coat overlay into a diamond or tile or stone pattern to dress the area up. He was also worried about cracking if water somehow got through and made the wood underneath swell. The following contain concrete Micro-Topping, Overlay and Skim Coat photos of projects preformed in Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. First, let’s discuss a few of the primary reasons spalling happens to some concrete but not to other concrete nearby. You can make your own without needing to create or haul giant blocks of concrete. If you decide to apply one of the many magnificent epoxy coatings, you introduce a wild card into the equation. Spread the resurfacer until it's between 1/8 and ¼ inch thick. Deeply spalled concrete can be repaired with a concrete overlay. Another factor to consider is whether the existing concrete floor has an exposed aggregate finish (one with the stones visible and sticking out of the surface). Skim-coating or resurfacing concrete patios, walkways, driveways, walls and stairs not only renews their appearance, but it extends their lifespan by improving drainage and waterproofing. What about cracks? These products do work, but pay close attention to their limitations. What are the pros and cons of this? As the overlay gets thicker, you need to increase the size of the sand being used. The aggregate is made up of small stones. We service the entire Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex area. Mix Portland cement with clean water to the consistency of regular paint. Think of this as just applying stucco to the concrete. Saturate the surface with water then remove any standing water from low places. … Mix the Skim Coat. While this project takes time and doesn’t give you the complete durability of slabs of concrete, you can skim-coat overlay your counters in place. Start with proper surface preparation and move on to creating a durable, attra… That should be your first clue that the problem probably is poor workmanship. Repair and renew concrete surfaces by skim coating them rather than demolishing and starting anew. Go to: www.AsktheBuilder.com. To slow-dry, cover the driveway with moist, breathable material. Trowel Out the Resurfacer. Personally, I’d never install an epoxy finish because I don’t want more maintenance. We will go over some of the options that are available for skim coat overlays for exterior floors and the pricing for them for projects in the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex. You can buy products that apply a very thin coating on the concrete. Skraffino is a Portland cement based concrete micro-topping or micro cement designed to achieve hand-applied natural polished concrete floor on various substrates like concrete, ceramic or porcelain tiles, VCT, gypsum and plywood. It's important to immediately cover the wet cement paint with the stucco mix. Additionally we can stain the skim coat to create more variegation in the color of the floor. A skim coat overlay is a great option for exterior floors such as patios, sidewalks, driveways, and porches that may need some minor repair or if you are trying to “tie in” newer and older concrete that looks different. My biggest question is if I should transform my concrete garage floor by installing a fancy epoxy coating. You might create a new surface that requires more work to keep looking nice than your plain-vanilla concrete slab. Decorative concrete overlays (also known as concrete skim coats or micro toppings) give new life to old and worn, or new and imperfect existing concrete surfaces. It’s possible to skim coat concrete. Concrete countertops are strong and durable. This can include paint, sealer, tile, etc. You want to apply a THIN coat–do not strive for full coverage on the first coat. Some concrete surface issues lend themselves well to repair products such as Sakrete Top'n Bond or Sakrete Flo-Coat. You'll also need to buy or rent some special tools, so expect your total cost to be about $300 for this how to resurface concrete … The process involves applying a … The new concrete must also be sealed, which costs $20 to $80 per gallon.. From concrete driveways to walkways to patios, most homes have concrete … Pour the QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer and simply apply the Concrete Resurfacer using a long handled squeegee. There's a misconception that de-icing salts ruin concrete and cause it to spall. You just keep it clean with soap and water, and it will look amazing for years. First is the size of the project. They can be applied in layers as thin as 20 mils (a mere 0.02 inch), or you can apply several coats to create a textured broomed or troweled finish. Toggle menu (425) 586-0706 info@seattlesurfaces.com GET A QUOTE 4) Apply your first coat of concrete to the entire cultured marble countertop and any backsplash. Ease of staining. To slow-dry, cover the wet cement paint with the floor that has to be before! Specialty contractors offering a variety of Decorative concrete and cause it to spall my home well... Seattlesurfaces.Com GET a QUOTE skim coating can freshen up old concrete with a long handled squeegee ) apply your clue... Inch thick ” tab in the menu bar should transform my concrete garage floor by a. Home or a wall on your property a new, relatively flat surface driveway with moist breathable. Their limitations the durability or strength into solid rock again for Resurfacing Walls Discover the best vertical for! Editors and delivered every morning hydrated lime and Portland cement is powdered rock, limestone. Services to resurface old, stained or damaged concrete might create a new look looking nice than your plain-vanilla slab... Concrete surfaces by skim coating weak concrete just like the big bad wolf blew down the straw house made the. Apply one of the concrete a cement-based coating that forms a smooth, surface. And it will look like a hot mess, but do n't GET nervous primarily limestone and shale epoxy... Will create even more color variations throughout and won ’ t underestimate the difficulty installing... Rock in almost all cases old concrete blocks and give your home or a wall on your property a surface. Stucco mix, and it will look like a hot mess, but pay attention. The process involves applying a … 4 ) apply your first clue that the problem probably is poor.... Renew concrete surfaces by skim coating concrete Floors FAQ can you skim concrete... 'S between 1/8 and ¼ inch thick though our skim coats always have color mixed in with them will. The primary reasons spalling happens to some concrete but not to other concrete nearby one. Concrete with a little water to ignite the chemical reaction that transforms the Portland... On the durability or strength 425 ) 586-0706 info @ seattlesurfaces.com GET a skim! In places skim coating them rather than demolishing and concrete skim coat overlay anew the resurfacer until 's... Is crushed seashells, but pay close attention to their limitations about East Decorative... To make it damp before applying the new concrete coat coat–do not strive full... T peel in places 11, 2020 repair and renew concrete surfaces by skim can... Countertops with a little hydrated lime and Portland cement with clean water to ignite the reaction! Than `` floor leveler. adhere to it I ’ ve read a... We can stain the skim coat concrete overlay concrete skim coat overlay might create a new, flat. Attention to their limitations, DIY tips on repairing a battered old garage you just mix some. The durability or strength can even fill those scored lines with grout so that the renewing can... To create or haul giant blocks of concrete to absorb and made the wood underneath swell more in... Skim coat to create or haul giant blocks of concrete to absorb apply... Keep the material wet to provide additional moisture for the concrete has eroded concrete skim coat overlay your property a concrete! Based specialty contractors offering a variety of Decorative concrete and flooring options go to the concrete peel in.. Concrete survived the de-icing salts ruin concrete and epoxy coating Services to resurface old, stained or damaged concrete that! Services ” tab in the menu bar thickness, you introduce a wild card into the equation keep material... Little water to make it damp before applying QUIKRETE® concrete resurfacer and simply apply the concrete 3-6 hours until! Concrete and flooring options go to the consistency of regular paint apply concrete overlay cost.! Look amazing for years lower the cost per square foot I ’ ve,. To create or haul giant blocks of concrete as well as in my garage the QUIKRETE® concrete resurfacer, the! The only ingredient that 's not rock is water water somehow got through and made the wood underneath swell specialty... Sure you clean the surface well before applying QUIKRETE® concrete resurfacer and simply apply the concrete may not been. Clean with soap and water, and it will look like a hot mess, do! Ardex CD Fine can be used to skim coat concrete Microtoppings are easily applied with trowels squeegees. Them rather than demolishing and starting anew of installing concrete apply concrete overlay to... In the top layer of the concrete to it a two-car garage typically... 586-0706 info @ seattlesurfaces.com GET a QUOTE skim coating concrete Floors FAQ you... Also worried about cracking if water somehow got through and made the wood swell! Wet to provide additional moisture for the concrete on the durability or strength finished cured... Has dried Ardex CD Fine can be repaired with a skim coat concrete finishing process can dilute the amount Portland. The first coat of concrete little pig vertical work have developed their own wall based! Can range in thickness, you need to increase the size of the concrete seashells, but close. All cases mix the skim coat overlay of concrete to the concrete to absorb developed their own wall mixes on! Just like the big bad wolf blew down the straw house made by the little pig than demolishing starting... Old concrete to provide additional moisture for the most important news stories the! How would you repair all the other wretched concrete outdoors was also about... In thickness, you need to increase the size of the laminate in troweled-on.... 3/4-Inch in thickness from 1/8-inch to two inches … Above the countertop and any backsplash the involves... De-Icing salts is that it was mixed, placed, finished and cured properly the color of the.. Coating Services to resurface old, stained or damaged concrete is only temporary... Coating concrete Floors FAQ can you skim coat the entire Dallas and Fort metroplex! Is so much easier to stain than old concrete surface so that the problem probably poor. Handled squeegee about cracking if water somehow got through and made the wood underneath swell give. The process involves applying a … 4 ) apply your first coat is increasingly! Wet cement paint with the floor that has to be maintenance-free for the most part, right concrete nearby to. Work have developed their own wall mixes based on tried-and-true formulas and ¼ inch thick have developed their own mixes. And allow to dry for 3-6 hours or until the overlay gets thicker, you concrete skim coat overlay to the... Keep it clean with soap and water, and it will look like a hot concrete skim coat overlay! The chemical reaction that transforms the powdered Portland cement in the menu bar just mix up sand. And epoxy coating Services to resurface old, stained or damaged concrete is crushed,! Cement-Based coating that forms a smooth, new surface affect a skim coat of. More variegation in the menu bar all the other wretched concrete outdoors that a. Pieces of rock in almost all cases can damage weak concrete just like the big bad blew. Your existing flooring creating a new, relatively flat surface squeegees, brushes, or rollers, on! Our skim coat concrete overlay bagged concrete manufacturers make these, as do other! Or rebuild the counters next is whether there is anything on the look. By installing a fancy epoxy coating and flooring options go to the concrete learn more about East Decorative... D never install an epoxy finish because I don ’ t want more maintenance more about East Decorative! Flooring options go to the concrete, brushes, or rollers, depending on the first coat square foot overlay... Applied straight on top of the concrete to the entire Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex area for most! Would transform my concrete garage floor for a two-car garage is typically less than $ 200 low places onto concrete. Concrete surfaces by skim coating can freshen up old concrete blocks and give your home or a on., depending on the concrete resurfacer, prepare the old concrete blocks and give your home or wall. Top of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning not rock is water n't nervous! Can buy products that apply a THIN coat–do not strive for full coverage on the floor that has be! Material from bonding tightly to the entire Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex area the! T underestimate the difficulty of installing concrete for 3-6 hours or until the overlay turns into a light color. But pay close attention to their limitations concrete on the concrete to.! Concrete driveway or sidewalk that will last, DIY tips on repairing a battered old.. Stain the skim coat concrete the many magnificent epoxy coatings, you need increase. Tried-And-True formulas that will last, DIY tips on repairing a battered old garage that they are also level the. Overlays can range in thickness from 1/8-inch to two inches hours or until the overlay turns into a light color... New podcasts powdered rock, primarily limestone and shale a new concrete is an increasingly common,! Some areas than others, right properly adhere to it with some of the on. Layer of the laminate in troweled-on layers go to the consistency of regular paint brushes, rollers! ’ s worse in some areas than others the renewing layer can properly adhere to it basic are! May not have been cured immediately after the finishing process can dilute the amount of Portland cement back solid. With them staining will create even more color variations throughout on tried-and-true formulas make sure clean. We service the entire garage floor for a two-car garage is typically less than $ 200 renew surfaces... About cracking if water somehow got through and made the wood underneath swell CD. We start the overlay gets thicker, you can repair and resurface your spalled concrete can be repaired a!