How to iron a concrete floor: giving “eternal life” to a concrete base

It is imperative that you give your concrete floor a smooth, long-lasting finish for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Achieving a long-lasting concrete base requires careful finishing. A technique that helps create a high-quality surface that is both resilient and aesthetically pleasing is ironing a concrete floor.

Gaining an understanding of the ironing process will help you achieve the best results, regardless of whether you’re working with a new or renovated slab. By maintaining a sturdy, even surface, this method not only improves the appearance of your floor but also increases its lifespan.

We’ll walk you through the procedures and advice needed to successfully iron a concrete floor in this guide. By using the proper technique, you can create a finish that is both beautiful and long-lasting, turning your concrete base into a focal point of your room.

Why iron a concrete surface

Ironing a concrete floor is a work process in which the concrete surface is made more durable and wear-resistant.

• Thanks to the applied protective layer, the coating is not exposed to destructive influences from external factors.
• It is impossible to find microcracks on such a floor, from which, as is known, the destruction of an unshakable concrete body begins.
• After completing such work, the floor acquires an ideal appearance.

• In addition, it is never too late to carry out ironing. The solution applied to the concrete surface not only preserves all the mechanical properties, but even restores them.

As a result, ironing is frequently done in conjunction with repair as well as preventive measures. However, it’s important to remember that ironing is the last step in finishing.

Cases when ironing of a concrete base is necessary

It is not always required to fortify the concrete surface further.

However, a number of important factors have an impact that causes the concrete body to deteriorate much more quickly and shortens its service life:

• constant mechanical loads;
• influence of natural factors;
• temperature effects – the more often the concrete thaws and freezes again, the faster microcracks will appear in its structure, from which further destruction will begin;
• acid and alkaline effects;
• increased abrasion conditions.

Ironing is therefore mostly done in production areas where specific kinds of work are actively done, particularly if equipment is running nonstop there.

Common concrete porches and stairs are also considered to be in the "risk group," so skilled artisans recommend reinforcing the surface further if there are no plans to cover them after pouring.

What should be used for ironing

The process of delamination and cracking starts as the concrete surface frequently loses its special qualities. The concrete is ruined as a result.

To prevent destruction, reinforcement is carried out with various materials:

• Cement strengthens concrete, increasing the performance characteristics of the material, and reducing moisture permeability. But this method is not particularly effective. The rubbed surface and the base layer of concrete will not create sufficient adhesion, and subsequently the surface will begin to peel off slowly, leaving unevenness and roughness.
• Toppings. Since cement does not provide a long-term strengthening effect, they began to explore the possibilities of using it with special reinforcing additives. Thus, various multi-component fine-dispersed mixtures based on cement were invented, patented and put into mass production. They not only have better adhesion to the base, but also increase the surface density, which improves strength and moisture-resistant qualities.
• Impregnations. More modern materials for ironing a concrete floor are impregnations produced on the basis of polymers and other synthetic compounds, which not only form a protective layer on the surface itself, but also penetrate into the pores of the concrete, strengthening it. Another advantage of such compositions is that they can be applied to any, even old, surfaces. However, their price is also high.

Impregnations are the best option if you’re looking for materials to manually iron concrete floors. They are only "in favor" of beginners because they are fairly simple to work with.

This article’s video will give a brief overview of contemporary hardeners that are available for home building.

Properly ironing a concrete floor is essential for ensuring its durability and longevity. By smoothing and finishing the surface, you not only enhance its appearance but also significantly extend its lifespan, preventing issues like cracking and wear. This process, often done with specialized equipment, helps create a strong, even base that can withstand heavy use and remain in top condition for years to come.

Methods of ironing with cement

Ironing is a straightforward technological task that calls for expertise and professional abilities. Let’s examine concrete floor ironing with cement in more detail.

Wet method

Appropriate for handling surfaces situated in both the vertical and horizontal directions. This procedure is carried out following the concrete’s 28-day strengthening. As a result, this specific technique is applied to both preventive maintenance and surface repair on older materials.

The floor is processed incrementally using the wet method:

• The surface must be cleaned of debris and dust.
• To increase the degree of adhesion of the base to the applied solution, the surface is treated with a deep penetration primer.
• Start preparing liquid cement-sand mortar in a 1:1 ratio.

Note: 10% of the cement weight must be made up of lime body in the solution in order to prevent cracks from forming. As long as liquid glass makes up no more than 5% of the final solution volume, it can be added to the mixture to give the surface water-repellent properties. Additionally, you can add microfiber to further reinforce the layer that comes after. roughly 3-4% of the total mass was dosed.

• Application to a horizontal surface is carried out using a trowel or trowel in a thin layer and leveled. A needle roller will help to cope with this faster and better.

Take note! The solution needs to be thickened if processing a vertical surface in order to prevent it from flowing down and to ensure that it is firmly attached to the base. applied using a spatula as well.

Following completion of all the work, a film is applied to the surface and it is allowed to stand for at least two days. It is best to use regular water to mist the applied layer in a hot room to avoid having to remove any cracks that may have formed from drying.

Dry method

Compared to the above, the dry method is less expensive and more comfortable. It is important to remember that ironing with dry technology is done right away on a screed that hasn’t set.

Its state should be such that even after passing over it, there are no traces because it hasn’t fully hardened yet. regular state after 7–10 hours. However, these terms change based on specific situations and conditions.

SNiP regulates the technology used in its application on floors made of reinforced concrete II-B.8-71.

Caution: Due to the peculiarities of this type of work, they can only be used for horizontal foundations.

You can use dry technology to reinforce a concrete floor with cement by following these instructions:

• Simply apply dry cement of a grade no lower than M300. Take a small amount onto a trowel and rub in using radial movements. For convenience, it is better to treat small areas. If the applied cement has acquired a dark shade, it means that its rubbing in was successful.
• If you plan to process large areas, it is best to use a special trowel.
• After grouting, the surface is treated with water-repellent impregnation.

Such a floor can only be used to its full potential after five days, but on the 28th day, the protective layer reaches its maximum strength.

Reinforcement with toppings

Because the coating has excellent and long-lasting qualities, this method is the most dependable and efficient. It resembles the dry method of work in certain ways.

• In the process of impregnation, a polymer composition is used, which is rubbed into the surface of the concrete. It is important to rub the polymer mixture at a time when it is still soft.
• The polymer mixture is poured onto the concrete and rubbed in using a trowel. It is only worth considering the fact that applying the topping is work performed by professionals, since the mixture itself is “capricious” and requires a special approach.

• How to work with a particular purchased mixture depends on its composition, which affects the method of application. Therefore, before use, be sure to refer to the instructions.

A crucial step in guaranteeing a concrete floor’s long-term performance and durability is ironing it. You can greatly increase the lifespan of your concrete surface by using high-quality equipment and appropriate techniques. A floor that has been properly finished will look better and be more resilient to deterioration.

Recall that every step of the process requires meticulous attention to detail, from setting up the surface to selecting the appropriate ironing tools. Every stage is essential to getting a polished, silky finish that will hold up over time under frequent use.

If the proper method is used, your concrete floor will not only look fantastic but also last for many years. Your concrete base will continue to be a strong foundation for everything by devoting time and energy to its upkeep.

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