New garage time!

[fatjay]

There was a scheduling issue and could only get one today. Tomorrow the 2nd and cleanup are coming at 7am. No power trowel, just a 24' 2x8 and a couple shovels. I wasn't sure what to expect with something this big, but I'm glad we shortened it to 20' long instead of 22, we wouldnt' have had enough. Pour took an hour, finishing took 2.

 

[airbiscuit]

You are getting a new garage with lots of space, and more to come later. With all your projects, that's awesome. I am wondering though, would it have been better if the floor had been done as a single pour? In any case, You are getting a new garage with lots of space. The hard part is over. Take another Advil!

 

[fatjay]

I wanted one pour. I wanted no seams. But they had one slot today and 2 slots tomorrow when I called last week. It's supposed to start raining on thursday and rain for hte next 6 days strait, sun for 1 day, then rain. the forcast in this area is notoriously unreliable and the concrete truck needed to come through the grass. We hadn't had rain for 6 days strait which is rare, so the truck had a minimal chance of getting stuck. It was do it today or no idea when the next opportunity is, possibly weeks out before the next pour opportunity. I hate that there's a seam. I really do. But it could easily be 2 months before I get another opportunity with the weather like this.

 

[fatjay]

This pour was 20' of depth. tomorrow is 24'. We've established today that 20' takes the full 10 yards, minus a wheel barrow. So I'm looking at another 10 plus 2-3 for hte cleanup. I hope i got the driver that i got today, that guy was sharp as a tack, and that's important for a concrete driver. I had a bad one once and man, it made life so much harder. They have me on the schedule for 7:30am. When they arrive is anyone's guess though!

 

[sodamo]

Looks really nice. Rain and concrete was always a challenge building our house. What are you going to use for a finish? Stain and sealer or epoxy?

 

[fatjay]

Going to paint the floors eventually. I want to look into smoothing that finish out first though. The floors at costco are concrete and have a mirror finish. I want to look into getting a buffer pad or something that can make it look like that.

 

[aczlan]

Going to paint the floors eventually. I want to look into smoothing that finish out first though. The floors at costco are concrete and have a mirror finish. I want to look into getting a buffer pad or something that can make it look like that.

Need to rent a power trowel to do that while the concrete is still wet...

Aaron Z

 

[deezler]

^ this. Don't sweat it on the back half, since what's done is done. But concrete is hard stuff, and you will need to invest a LOT of work to grind it smooth. You can get near-costco smoothness up front simply by using a power trowel during the pour. I would still rent one for the front 24' if I were you!

Edit to add: you can also just stand/kneel/crawl on the concrete to finish it...

 

[747driver]

X3 on renting a power trowel ! After the last truck leaves go get one...you will not regret doing it. That looked uncomfortable finishing it while laying on that ladder !! Good luck today...

 

[fatjay]

Day 2 done. One truck with 10 yards, another with 1.5 yards. Truck was scheduled for 8, they got here at 7:30. Got everything in and finished, jumps in, pex still holding at 30psi. It was sunny and breezy which made it set quickly, which meant we had to work quickly, no time for breaks. I'm happy with it though. Total for 3 trucks of 4500psi concrete, 21.5 yards was $3k. I paid one guy $200 and another $400 for the extra labor we needed. Compared to the $8200 the concrete floor guy wanted, I think it was a bargain. I hit the concrete from yesterday with my 20 grit fluted rub brick and in a half hour I had it half of the back half feeling like a granite counter top.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Marshalltown-6-in-x-3-in-20-Grit-Concrete-Rub-Brick-840-HD/100318060

My wife asked why i took my shoes off. I told her I didn't want to track mud in my new garage.

It was hard work, but it was well worth it.

 

[Citydude]

Very nice Jay! Mission accomplished.

 

[fitter1]

Put a sprinkler on it.

 

[deezler]

^ seconded. If its hot and sunny, keep it wet at least all day!

Great job. I bet it feels good to have this huge step done. Do you have a plan for cutting your control joints? Should be done soon.

 

[fatjay]

I'm soaking it every hour with the hose, and it's supposed to rain for the next 6 days. Still figuring out what I'm going to do for the control joint.

 

[sodamo]

X3 on renting a power trowel ! After the last truck leaves go get one...you will not regret doing it. That looked uncomfortable finishing it while laying on that ladder !! Good luck today...

That power trowel can burnish the surface to the point it won’t acid stain well. A high solids acrylic sealer may help over the rougher stuff.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks for posting pictures and updating us.

Glad its done. I'll bet your arms are tired with that 20 grit pad....wax on, wax off.

 

[EddieWalker]

Congratulations. Looks like all your planning worked out perfectly!!!

 

[747driver]

That power trowel can burnish the surface to the point it won’t acid stain well. A high solids acrylic sealer may help over the rougher stuff.

True if you keep troweling it. Its just the trowler really does a nice job in leveling and smoothing to get the finish you desire. If it did it to smooth you need to pour a concrete etcher on it to open the pores up to accept a stain or epoxy.

 

[sodamo]

True if you keep troweling it. Its just the trowler really does a nice job in leveling and smoothing to get the finish you desire. If it did it to smooth you need to pour a concrete etcher on it to open the pores up to accept a stain or epoxy.

When we did house had already decided to do acid stain, so we made sure the operators didn’t get it too smooth to avoid etching. The guys did well.

 

[ovrszd]

One control joint down the middle lengthwise. Three control joints equally spaced across the pad. Needs to be done as soon as possible.

For me, the most important part of my shop is the floor. I sweep my floor 2 or 3 times a week.

If you plan to control dust/dirt you'll have to paint or seal your floor since you don't have a troweled surface.