Thin Slab On Top Of Existing?

Iloveneworleans

I have a basement, slab on grade. The concrete is without cracks, but it's old and has dips and discoloration. I'm turning the basement into living space and want an acid stained color with a high gloss finish. I know elitecrete and those other decorative concrete companies say they require a fresh floor as underlayment for their product. They tell me to grind down my existing floor, but that would require a lot of work. Could I just pour a thin layer of lightweight concrete on top of my existing? If so, how thin is too thin? Would I need to grind the new one, too?

Emily

Iloveneworleans

In addition,
Has anyone heard of or used Patchcrete?
According to Artcrete's distributor, I could trowel this bonding agent to my existing concrete, then stain and seal that. I'm skeptical that it will flake off.

JIM CARROLL

you could go to sunbelt or rental yard of your choice and rent a shotblaster, scarifier or floor grinder and be done by luch. i used to sell patchcrete and artcrete and it is a really good products but for what you would spend why not grind with floor grinder and then stain and seal. Patchcrete can be used to feather edge. I used to sell very much of it and never had one problem. it is a bag/jug combo that you mix together. I would recommend using a primer with it. it is called p100. my only concern would be having trowel marks in it. you might would be better off with a self leveling product if that is the way you choose to go.

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JIM CARROLL
INLET PRESSURE CLEANING
MYRTLE BEACH SC

Zack

You can put an overlayment over the top of the old slab. First you would have to fix all the dips and discoloration. Then apply the overlay. Sand it down. Acid stain and seal.

The way I would do it is grind , fix dips and discoloration because that can bleed through to the top of your overlay. Cement overlay on top. Acid stain color. Saw cut if wanted then seal it.

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