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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:51 pm
by jictech
Hi all
I would be grateful for any help from you guys.I have had a concrete parking area layed and the contractors used trowels to level the concrete.I didnt notice untill today that there are raised trowel marks on the surface and it looks real bad.
Now the concrete is drying there isnt much even the contractors can do i suppose so my question is can i use a concrete floor grinder to get these out?
If so will i have to seal the surface afterwards?
What is the best method to fix this without taking it up again?
Many thanks
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:31 pm
by GB_Groundworks
depending how deep they are they may just wear or weather off, otherwise you'll need an errut or similar grinder
uses abrasive blocks held in with wooden wedges, but you might make more mess with this than you will benefit from doing it requires patient and a feel for concrete finishing. if they are only small ridge you might be able to try rubbing them off with a concrete common brick,
gi
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:37 pm
by jictech
thanks for the quick reply.Yeh i thought it wasnt that easy,I did use a brick to do it in places and it was ok but its such a large area i was about to have a heart attack so gave in 
They are a little too deep in places.They contractor told me they would wear away in time but it looks bad so dont want to wait.
btw where could i hire one of these?
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:18 pm
by GB_Groundworks
if they are proud ridged marks then they may wear off in time, if they are sunken marks then you will have to take all the surrounding area down to that level. more work and potential for mess. plus the grinders are very heavy and hard work, don't be greedy and do it in light passes.
you will be able to hire one from any good local hire depot or national hire firm such as speedy (other hire firms are available)
you will have to buy the blocks and wedges to go in it, and hire a 110v transformer.
you will also need ppe as its a noisy dirty job, and you cant use water suppression. safety specks, ear protection and a good respirator
giles
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:30 pm
by jictech
ok thanks again mate. i would like to find someone to do it for me but dont know of anyone so will give it a go i think.I have to try and make the best of a bad situation.One mofre thing if you dont mind.
is there a sealent with a colour so i can tone it down a little?Im in an old country house and it sticks out like a saw thumb compareed to everything else
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:09 am
by seanandruby
Is it a tamp, or brush finish? Maybe some photos. If you use to big a machine you will just make the concrete look shite. To many so called Concrete layers" start trowelling too early whilst it is still wet, or add more water than need be. What happens then is ridges and low points. You might have to scabble the arris edge and make it up with some epoxy, or simeon will be along to advise on a suitable material. Why lads mess up a slab especially the edges is a sure sign of cowboys at work. The concrete should be a proper slump when poured, no pissing it up to make it "self levelling" which it's not! Screed it off then wooden, or plastic trowel. Run the arris trowel along the edges of the shutter to avoid it sticking when its time for the arris edge. Wait until its ready for the steel trowel. Give it the final trowel, then brush and finally arris trowel. I hate to see the high ridges on a pavement. 
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:19 am
by Dave_L
Watched some concrete slabs being poured/formed on a petrol filling station forecourt we were working on - it was nice to see the lads do the job properly and take pride in the job - the lightly brushed finish complete with arris when complete was very pleasing to the eye.
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:48 pm
by jictech
well i dont know what they did actually.I just saw it after they finished and really it is bad.It looks to me like it was just troweled and it is a real mess . I will try to take a picture but beleive me it is not good.
So by what everyone is saying then maybe the grinder is a bad idea. So is there something i can put on the top of it? Some screed or other surface? If so any reccomendations please?
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:16 pm
by msh paving
SIMEON at ronacrete is the man for this question,
Ronacrete House,
Flex Meadow,
Merring Way,
Harlow,
Essex
CM19 5TD
Tel: 01279 638700
Fax: 01279 638701
MSH
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:18 pm
by msh paving
opp's Ronac house
tying error :p
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:19 pm
by lutonlagerlout
msh paving wrote:opp's Ronac house
tying error :p
shurely thats "typing" ?
lol
LLL
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:13 pm
by seanandruby
lutonlagerlout wrote:msh paving wrote:opp's Ronac house
tying error :p
shurely thats "typing" ?
lol
LLL
shurley that's "oop's" ???
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:28 am
by msh paving
this gets worse....................
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:58 am
by henpecked
seanandruby wrote:lutonlagerlout wrote:msh paving wrote:opp's Ronac house
tying error :p
shurely thats "typing" ?
lol
LLL
shurley that's "oop's" ???
Shurley that's surely?
:0:)
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:38 am
by Suggers
Don't call me Shirley.