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Fill Voids and Wet Sand

8:22
11:06
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At 8:22 in

DIY Concrete Countertops For DUMMIES

What happens here

If voids are present on the surface after demolding, mix a small batch of Portland cement with water to a 'pudding-like' consistency. Apply a thin layer of this cement paste over the entire concrete slab using a trowel, pushing it into all the small holes and voids. Allow this layer to dry. Once dry, use a 6-inch drywall knife to scrape off the excess dried cement paste from the surface, leaving only the filled voids. Repeat this process if necessary for deeper voids. Finally, for a smoother finish, wet sand the entire surface using a sanding block with 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper and a spray bottle filled with water. Keep the surface wet while sanding to create a slurry that helps fill micro-pores and achieve a polished look.

Goal: Repair surface imperfections and achieve a smooth finish.

Tools and materials

  • 1500-grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper — Wet sanding the concrete surface
  • 6-inch Drywall Knife — Scraping off excess cement paste
  • Gloves — Hand protection
  • Portland Cement — Mixing a paste to fill voids
  • Safety Glasses — Eye protection
  • Sanding Block — Holding sandpaper for wet sanding
  • Spray Bottle HDX — Applying water during wet sanding
  • Trowel — Applying cement paste
  • Water — Mixing cement paste and wet sanding

What they say

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oh yes at this point you probably notice not all voids were filled but don't worry don't freak out there's a way to fix this pick up a bag of Portland cement from the hardware store it's like five or ten bucks mix it up into the consistency of pudding and start applying like you would wood grain filler a slim thin amount on top pushing it into all the little holes all the little voids do that a few layers I found that just doing the entire slab just helps you speed up the process once it's dry then scrape it off then apply another amount and spray it off then take like a six inch finer finishing drywall knife and scrape all the dry stuff off the top this will really help ensure that you don't pull any of the stuff out of its pores you know first I'm not a fan of wet polishing countertops simply because I feel like it opens up far more pores and creates these voids you got to go back and patch instead the simple solution that for me was to get a sanding block with some wet sanding sandpaper 1500 grit and then a spray bottle and do my own manual version of the wet sanding on the countertop keep in mind it's now gonna create it to be that glass slippery smooth granite feel but this is concrete it's supposed to have some of the rough textures and the voids and with the sealer it comes out really well

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