How to iron concrete: features of mixtures for strengthening

In this article we will talk about the most effective and affordable method of protective finishing of concrete screeds. So, what is the ironing of concrete surfaces, and for what purpose is it performed?

Reasons to perform ironing

It is no secret that solutions containing Portland cement have a porous structure. This is well seen if the reinforced concrete was cut with diamond circles.

The presence of pores is a negative quality, due to which the degree of hydrophobicity of concrete structures and structures decreases. In addition, due to the presence of a porous structure, the surface of concrete bases is subject to abrasion and dusting, which is unacceptable in relation to premises with high maneuverability.

There are many solutions to strengthen concrete surfaces and prevent the formation of dust. But the most effective and easy to implement method is ironing. Let's try to figure out how to iron concrete.

Features strengthen the screed

Protecting the surface of the cement floor screed from excessive moisture and abrasion is not as difficult as it may seem. The ironing instruction involves applying a layer of dry cement or cement paste to another fresh solution. The applied layer in thickness should not exceed 3 mm. Immediately after application, the backfill layer is smoothed with a plaster grater or other devices.

The technology and the result of its use are characterized by a number of advantages, including:

• significant increase in strength and durability of the finished screed;
• resistance to adverse environmental effects;
• ease of implementation;
• reasonable price of the finished result in comparison with other methods of protective finishes.

Are there any drawbacks that you should pay attention to before starting work? Perhaps this is the case when there are no flaws and you can safely proceed to the protective treatment of the floor in the garage.

Mixtures for ironing

If the question is how to iron the concrete floor in the garage, it's time to think about the composition of the mixture. Until recently, cement coatings were strengthened using high-quality cement, which was sprinkled with a thin layer. Today, other more complex formulations are used that provide a better result.

A modern mixture for strengthening concrete is a fine powder consisting of high-quality Portland cements and a number of fillers that provide increased hardness.

Among the fillers can be applied granite or marble flour, ground quartz or corundum. In addition, special modifying additives that regulate the rate of surface drying are introduced into the industrially made mixtures.

The process of strengthening the screed

As already mentioned, the ironing instruction involves applying dry or semi-dry cement-containing mixtures with your hands to a freshly applied solution. In order to achieve optimal parameters of dustlessness and moisture resistance of the finished result, cement mortars with a number of modifying additives are used, such as water glass, sodium aluminate, etc.

In the event that the process of strengthening the mortar is carried out correctly, you will get a smooth and durable concrete surface, and this result will not be able to provide either a primer or a deep penetration.

Tip: Only after the installation of the iron door in aerated concrete, you can begin to fill and finish the floor screed.

Depending on the method of implementation, there are two different ways of ironing - dry and wet.

• The dry method is exclusively suitable for processing horizontal surfaces.. The simplest instruction for the implementation of this method involves the use of a sieve in which pure cement is poured. The cement is sifted by hand in order to eliminate the presence of seals in the concrete. Then the sifted cement evenly sprinkles onto a still wet surface with a layer no thicker than 3 mm. Once in the semi-moist solution, the backfill will draw out the remaining moisture from the surface. As a result, the cement will become a dough, and the floor screed will acquire a hard crust. Next will wipe the resulting dough.
• The wet method is suitable for processing all surfaces.. For these purposes, pre-sifted cement and other ingredients are kneaded into a thick mass. This mass is slightly dried plaster smeared with a thin layer, which is then smoothed with a plaster grater until a clean and smooth surface is formed. In order to prevent cracking of the plaster, with ironing, you can apply the dough made from Portland cement M300 and construction slaked lime. Both components must be sifted through a fine sieve. The proportions of ingredients are 0.5 parts of cement to three parts of lime.

Important: Plasters and screeds ferric wet method, characterized by high quality in comparison with the result obtained using the dry method.

Let us consider in more detail how to iron the concrete screed.

Technology of iron concrete

Imagine, the concrete surface can be processed so smoothly that it does not require the use of other finishing coatings! This advantage is particularly relevant in relation to the decoration of public buildings, where the floor space is large and thus there is a unique opportunity to save money and time.

Important: Properly rubbed concrete floor is easy to clean and wash with plain water without the need for special detergents.

The instructions for iron formation are as follows

• After the concrete screed is filled, we wait from 3 to 6 hours, as a rule, this time is enough for the concrete to gain primary strength.
• Then the surface is sprinkled with topping (in our case it is a mixture of cement and lime).
• After the filling is impregnated with moisture from the solution and starts to grab, we proceed to the processing with the troweling machine. First time we go through the disc and take a break in half an hour.
• Next, go through the blades until a characteristic brilliance appears.
• At the end of the grout, the screed is covered with a film and this is kept for a week.

Conclusion

Now you have a general idea of ​​how to strengthen the screed or plaster. But it should be remembered that before ironing all the necessary technological holes of the recess or joints need to be made, otherwise diamond drilling of the holes in the concrete will be required.

If you have any questions requiring comprehensive answers, watch the video in this article.