How to Make Concrete Overlay Look Like Wood Floor or Marble

Wood Look

• 1

  Remove any dirt or debris from the overlay surface with a push broom and then mop the concrete using a pH-neutral cleanser and a mop. Clean off any areas with oil on the surface with a scrub brush and a concrete degreaser. Rinse off the overlay with clean water and then allow the concrete about six hours drying time.

• 2

  Brush a layer of bonding adhesive onto the surface with a paintbrush and allow it to dry out until it no longer has a wet looking appearance.

• 3

  Cover the adhesive layer with a thin layer of self-leveling compound, about 1/8 inch thick. Mix the compound in a 5-gallon bucket with a drill containing a grout mixing attachment. Add a brown tint to the overlay mix in the color of wood desired while mixing and then spread it evenly over the concrete surface with a trowel. Wait for the compound to harden enough so that, if pressed with the ball of your thumb, a slight impression remains, rather than the compound closing over the pressed area completely.

• 4

  Broadcast a mold release agent over the surface, using an arching motion with your arm to throw the material evenly over the surface.

• 5

  Use concrete stamps with wood textures to create the wood look and feel for your overlay. Position the stamp at the corner of the surface and press the textured side onto the compound lightly. Pull the stamp free to leave behind the textured appearance in the wood-colored surface. Apply the next stamp in the stamp series to the spot adjacent to the first, stamping the compound in the same manner. Continue to apply the stamps to the surface in rows until you’ve covered it all, creating the wood look desired. Allow the compound to dry to firmness overnight.

• 6

  Spray the surface with a concrete sealant and wait an additional 48 hours for the sealant to dry before using the floor.

Marble Look

• 7

  Cover the cleaned overlay with a layer of primer. Use a low-nap paint roller to apply the primer, rolling it onto the overlay in overlapping rows. Leave the primer overnight to dry enough for the marbled paint application.

• 8

  Sand the primer smooth using very-fine wet/dry sandpaper. Saturate the sandpaper in water and then work the wet sandpaper over the primer in a circular motion, removing any lines or markings from the primer surface. Keep the paper wet while working. Remove any residue from the primed overlay by wiping the surface clear with a tack cloth.

• 9

  Set a photo of the desired marble finish that you wish to emulate nearby to serve as reference material for color and design.

• 10

  Paint the overlay with a layer of paint in the lightest color found in your marble reference. Work from the center of the overlay to the edges using a paintbrush to cover the overlay surface and then wait about six hours drying time.

• 11

  Apply each color of the marble to the surface of the overlay using light translucent layers that allow the paint already in place to show through the new layer. Thin the paint for each layer before application by mixing it using the ratio of one part paint, one part glaze and one part paint thinner. Mix in a bucket using a wooden stir stick. Work from the lightest color to the darkest, patting the paint into place with a sponge instead of the paintbrush. By using the light layers, you’ll create the mottled look of marble onto the overlay. Allow the six-hour drying time after each layer, except for the last.

• 12

  Apply the marble veins to the painted overlay while the last paint layer remains wet. Use a small paintbrush to paint on the veins, using a paint tinted to the color of the veins running through the paint in your reference picture. Paint the veins onto the surface one at a time to match the reference vein pattern on the overlay. Dry the painted overlay overnight.

• 13

  Roll three layers of polyurethane over the completed marbled surface to protect the paint from chipping or staining. Use a low-nap paint roller on an extension pole for application, working the material over the surface in overlapping rows. Cure each layer of polyurethane after you apply it for 24 hours before placing the next.