There are very few things more satisfying than the sense of accomplishment that comes from installing your very own DIY Concrete Floor. From a sophisticated screed flooring to smooth ‘n scratch decorative technical finishes and Coprox waterproof coatings, Sephaku Cement investigates three (3) Do It Yourself concrete floor finishes that you can most certainly install on your own.

Screed Concrete Floors

Creating a stylish concrete finish that bypasses the added expense of often costly concrete overlays, concrete screed floors are one of the most cost-effective and desirable concrete floor finishes to have increased in popularity over the last 10 years.  A concrete surface that was initially and primarily intended to level out floor surface variations, today concrete screed creates a seamless flooring application, enhanced by almost any colour you can imagine while offering a durable and lasting underfoot fitting. Forming a well-compacted mixture of Sephaku 42.5 N and a well graded fine/coarse sand aggregates to screed your own DIY floor you will also need to incorporate an acrylic bonding agent while also making use of polyethylene plastic sheeting to assist during curing. To ensure the screed finish adequately bonds to create the desired finish the existing base will need to be roughened and cleaned.   Mixing one (1) part cement to four (4) parts aggregate sand, blend your screed mix using accurately measured water to create an ideal mix. Next using 2 parts water to five parts of cement, add an acrylic bonding agent as a separate blend. Coat the base with the acrylic bonding mix just before applying the screed to secure a durable bond. Spread the screed over the bonding slurry and compacting the surface using a wooden float. Next using a steel trowel, smooth over the screed surface to create a level and gloss like surface. Once smoothed cover the screeded surface with polyethylene plastic sheeting and allow to cure between five (5) and seven (7) days.

Coprox Overlay

A waterproof overlay that doubles up as a decorative concrete finish, Coprox is available in an extensive range of colours and can be applied to screeded floors as well as directly onto bricks, mortar, or plaster. Effective in preventing water from being absorbed into the pores of the concrete, a Coprox overlay also create a naturally aged or stressed appearance on any concrete surface. Mixing five (5) litres of water with a 5kg bag of Coprox, blend well to ensure there are no lumps in the mix. Wet the surface of the floor and apply the first coat of Coprox using a brush on top of the damp floor. Next, mist the Coprox overlay several times over an 8-hour period before applying the second coat. To apply the second coat, wet the surface once again, apply the second coat, and continue to mist the surface during the drying process.

Smooth n Patch Concrete Floors

Blending colour pigments into the cement and aggregate mix before casting, “Smooth ‘n patch” is often referred to as a decorative technical concrete floor finish because if its ability to self-level on almost any base/surface. Depending on the type of floor base you plan on applying “Smooth ‘n patch” to, preparing the base surface will determine how well this decorative concrete application bonds. When fitting “Smooth ‘n patch” to a tiled surface, make sure the glaze of the tile has been scuffed off and coat the surface with a “Smooth ‘n patch” primer. Next, apply a 4mm thick layer of “Smooth ‘n patch” on top of the primed base carefully using a hand float to smooth over the surface. Allow to cure for just 24 hours and complete the applications with a sealant.