Basement Floor Concrete Resurfacing – Process & Durability

In this article, we’ll be discussing concrete resurfacing for basement floors, and everything else that comes with it.

You may have an awesome-looking garden, but that’s not the only thing your visitors will notice when they step into your premises. They will notice the concrete works too!

Just like the other features of your home, concrete is also going to wear off at some point. There’s no way your basement, pool deck, patio, curb, or driveway will look the same after many years of being trampled on.

The good news is, you can always resurface.

Keep reading!

What Is Basement Floor Concrete Resurfacing?

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, concrete resurfacing is when an old concrete surface is broken up, removed, and laid with a new concrete mixture.

This process usually takes a lot of time and is done using heavy-duty power tools.

Preparing The Concrete Area For Resurfacing

One vital aspect of resurfacing your concrete floor is preparing the surface area.

Doing this the right way guarantees the resurfacer will be applied effectively. It will also ensure the durability and longevity of the new surface.

It is important to prepare the surface the right way before you begin resurfacing because resurfacers cling on to clean and solid bases a whole lot better.

Surfaces that are left with debris can penetrate the resurfacer material and pop up after the whole process has been completed. This will not only give it an undesirable look, but it will also cause the new surface to begin cracking after a short period.

Follow the steps below to prepare your concrete surface the right way before resurfacing.

Clean the area thoroughly:

First and foremost, make sure the area you’re about to resurface is free of all debris. This can be easily done with a broom.

Sweep off bits of rocks, leaves, sand, and any other obstructive materials.

For more effective results, you can do the cleaning with a power washer. The advantage of using this tool is that you can knock off the coating on the old surface. These include sealers, oils, and paint.

Leaving the old coating behind can affect the looks of the finished work.

If you don’t have a power washer, you can opt for soap and water, with a scrub of course. You can also add a chemical cleaner into the mix to help get rid of paint and other coatings.

This approach can work well for you, but ensure you wash off the soap and cleaning chemicals before you begin resurfacing.

Remove the unsound concrete:

If you find any spalling, scaling, or delamination on the surface, then you must remove them before you apply the resurfacing material.

These excesses can affect the way the finished work will look, as well as the way the resurfacing material will bond with the old surface beneath.

Fill up the cracks:

Leaving cracks behind will also affect the result of your concrete resurfacing, especially if the spaces in between the cracks are as wide as an inch.

Spaces in the cracks will alter the adhesion of the resurfacing material. It can also lead to the formation of cracks in the new surface.

It is important to lay the new resurfacing material on a smooth surface for the best results. You can use a crack filler to do this.

Improve the grip of the surface:

Giving the old surface a thorough cleaning is great, but for you to achieve the best results after resurfacing, you have to evenly roughen up the surface.

Doing this will improve the grip the resurfacing material will have on the prepared surface. A shot blaster or grinder can give you the desired results.

If you don’t have any of these machines at home, then you can rent from a home maintenance store near you.

After this step has been finished, you can proceed to resurface the area.

Hiring professional contractors is ideal for resurfacing concrete. They have the experience and the tools to get the job done the right way.

However, you will have to pay them for their services.

If you’re the DIY type and would like to give it a go, then follow the steps below to resurface your concrete.

How To Resurface Concrete Basement Floor

Get the dry powder form of your resurfacer and mix it with some water in the appropriate ratio. You can find the correct mixing ratio on the pack of the resurfacing powder.

Keep in mind that you have to follow the specific instructions on the pack. This is vital in determining the strength of the product.

After you have done the mix, you need to apply the paste over the concrete area. You can use a long-handed squeegee to do this.

Most concrete resurfacers are self-leveling, just ensure you apply the mixture evenly across the surface.

A quick tip is this – Do not apply the resurfacer when the weather is cold. If the temperature is higher than 50°F for at least 24hours, then you’re good to go!

If the temperature is below this, then you need to wait for the weather to get warmer before resurfacing. The reason warm weather is best for resurfacing is that the heat helps the material dry faster.

Keep in mind that the first coating may not be enough, you may need to apply one or two more coatings to get the desired results. This is not a general rule of thumb, it all depends on how the resurfacing process is panning out and the circumstances involved.

Does Concrete Resurfacing Last?

This is a question that many people who are new to concrete resurfacing ask. The answer to this question is yes, concrete resurfacing lasts a very long time, as long as it is done the right way and under the right conditions.

A well-resurfaced floor can last between 9 to 16 years.

Besides being long-lasting, concrete resurfacing has other advantages. We will be listing them out below.

1. It is economical

The major advantage of concrete resurfacing is that you don’t need to give up “an arm and a leg” to get it done.

When you compare it to other flooring remedies, you will find that this is a very budget-friendly option. The materials needed for concrete resurfacing are cheaper, and so is the labor.

The best part is, you will still achieve the same brand new look you want for your surface. You can also use it to fix small patches here and there.

2. Application is easy

The fact that concrete resurfacing materials are self-leveling makes the job a bit easier. This means you will not need a spade to get the job done.

We all know how much time it will take if you were to do the leveling manually. This would take hours and you probably won’t be able to do it alone.

As long as the resurfacing mixture is evenly spread across the surface, then the job is basically done!

3. It allows you to explore many designs and colors

When people think of concrete resurfacing, they imagine ending up with a plain, grey-looking surface. However, this is not the case.

You can spice up the finishing with some special coloring that can be mixed in with the resurfacing material. What this means is you can achieve the same aesthetic beauty that marble and other expensive flooring materials have to offer.

4. It Boosts Resistance To Wear And Tear

If not for anything else, the durability of the materials used in concrete resurfacing should convince you that it’s a very good flooring option. Some of the materials used are actually resistant to stains, which makes them easy to clean.

5. It Can Increase the Value of Your Home

Concrete resurfacing is durable and can be tinted with special colors to give your home a more pleasing look. Toughness plus beauty can add a great deal of value to your home.

If you’re planning to sell your home, using concrete resurfacing to improve the looks of your floors will appeal more to potential buyers.

If you wish, you can add non-slip coatings to the surface to make it easy to walk on even on a wet, rainy day.

The Downside Of Concrete Resurfacing

Like most things in life, concrete resurfacing comes with its own disadvantage. The major one (which is common with most resurfacing applications), is the time it takes to break off the old concrete.

Replacing the old concrete with the resurfacing material is easy, but a lot of work has to be done before you get to that stage.

Conclusion

Concrete resurfacing has proven to be a cost-effective, durable, and long-lasting flooring solution. The materials are easy to get and you can actually do the job yourself.

This is not to say hiring a professional contractor is a bad idea, because it isn’t. They have the experience and the tools to do a great job. Nonetheless, you can do the resurfacing yourself by following the steps provided here.

We hope this article has been informative.

Thanks for reading!