The unfinished part of our basement is concrete and mostly smooth, but I would like to make it "brush-able" throughout

A lot of it (~20 sqft or so) is just rough enough to hinder a fine broom, and I think a concrete paint or sealer might take care of it. Suggestions?

Another spot (~2 sqft) is VERY rough; it appears the contractor used concrete patch to make a transition from the finished (installed flooring) to unfinished (concrete) area. Can you suggest a product that will fill it in (~1/8" thick max) and leave a nice smooth surface? Will the product need to be worked like concrete to get that smoothness?

(edit: make that 1/16" thick max, just enough so that paint will probably not do the trick)

Thank you!

Depends on how smooth you want it. Concrete paint will smooth it out quite a bit especially if you do 2 coats. You can grind a concrete floor but the equipment is very heavy and can be rented.

Thanks, ballenger

I really do not want to grind the really rough patch. I just want to transform it from a dimpled surface with an obvious transition edge to a smooth, continuous surface.

(I'm also hoping to get it in a small container, so I don't buy a 20 lb. bag of concrete leveler and use 1 cup of it)

You could try using a angle grinder with an aluminim oxide disk just to take off the high spots. The leveler will work but the patch will show as much smoother than the rest of the floor, hard to feather too.

You could try using a angle grinder with an aluminim oxide disk just to take off the high spots. The leveler will work but the patch will show as much smoother than the rest of the floor, hard to feather too.

Any particular type or brand of leveler to use? The idea is not so much making in match flawlessly, but rather get rid of feather-lines and small holes so it sweeps easily. If the patch comes out smoother than the floor, its way better than what I have now.

Is it something you can layer on thin coats, to make feathering easier? I have not worked with leveler before , just concrete patch that came out way too rough.

(thanks for the responses, by the way)