I am not a professional. I had no fancy tools. Just me, a brush, a bag of Portland cement, and an old Mario Party bucket I use for mixing.
I had been looking at a rough and uneven concrete ground surface for a while and kept wondering the same thing. What if I just brushed cement on it in thin layers the same way you would paint a surface? Could that actually work as a cheap fix?
So I tried it. I did multiple coats on two different areas, worked through full sun, dealt with drying problems, and saw some results I honestly did not expect. Here is a straightforward breakdown of what happened.
What I did and what Portland cement is not designed for
Portland cement is made for structural concrete, mortar, and heavy construction work. Brushing it on like paint is not what it was designed for, and I want to be upfront about that before anything else.
For this experiment, I mixed it with water until it was loose enough to spread with a brush, then applied it in thin coats to two different areas. One area was already smooth, and the other was rough and uneven.
For mixing, I just shoveled cement into the bucket and stirred it up with the brush I was already using. Normally, you would mix the bonding adhesives and cement separately in their own container, but I only had the one bucket, so I worked with what I had.
Step 1: Prep the surface and do not skip this part
Before any cement went on, I swept the area thoroughly with a broom to clear out dirt, dust, and any loose material sitting on the surface. After that, I sprayed everything down with water.
This made a huge difference. In the areas I swept and sprayed first, it bonded smoothly and went on much more evenly.
The sweep and spray step is honestly the most important part of the whole process. Do not skip it.
Step 2: The first coat is just a starting point
The first coat is not going to look great, and that is completely fine. It came out rough and patchy in some spots, and the cement soaked in differently depending on the texture of the ground underneath. That is all normal.
Step 3: The second coat is where things actually improve
Once the first layer had partially set, I went back in with a second coat. This time, I added a bit more water to keep it flowing, and I worked faster so it would not dry out while I was still spreading it.
The improvement was pretty clear. The surface started looking more consistent, the rougher patches began blending, and it actually started to look like a proper finish.
The biggest problem was how fast it dried in the sun
I was outside on a sunny day, and the water was evaporating almost as fast as I could apply it. Parts of the surface were already starting to set before I had a chance to smooth them out.
The solution I landed on was just keeping a spray bottle nearby and rewetting the surface constantly as I worked. It slowed things down a little, but it kept the cement workable long enough to get a decent result.
If you are doing this outside on a hot or sunny day, keep water close and spray as you go. Drying out too fast is the main thing that can ruin your finish.
The final results were a split story
After multiple coats on both areas, here is what I ended up with.
- The area that was already smooth beforehand came out really well. Very even, clean-looking finish. I was happy with how it turned out.
- The rough area improved quite a bit, but still showed some unevenness in certain spots.
The smooth area taught me the most important lesson of the whole experiment. It was not really about the cement at all. It was about what the surface looked like before I started. The smoother the base, the better your result is going to be.
A smooth starting surface gives you a great finish. A rough one can still work, but you will need more coats and more patience to get there.
Would I do it again
Yes, but only with proper prep and on a surface that suits the method. The cost is inexpensive, and when the conditions are right, it genuinely works.
The thing I will take away from this is that concrete finishing is less about having a special product and more about preparation and patience. Thin coats, a clean surface, and keeping it wet while you work. That is really all there is to it.