Polished concrete uses the structural slab as the finished floor. Grinding removes surface material and may expose fine sand, small aggregate, or larger aggregate depending on the design. A chemical densifier is commonly used to strengthen the surface and support polishing. Stains, dyes, decorative saw cuts, or other treatments may be added. The final appearance depends heavily on slab quality, placement, finishing, repairs, cracks, aggregate distribution, previous coatings, and construction history. Variations are normal and should be reviewed through samples or mock-ups. Polished concrete can provide durability and simplified maintenance, but it remains a hard surface and may require attention to acoustics, slip resistance, staining, and joint maintenance.
Key considerations
- commercial polished concrete flooring, polished concrete process, exposed concrete commercial floors
- polished concrete, commercial concrete flooring, exposed concrete
- heavy traffic, abrasion resistance, cleanability
- exposed aggregate, variable sheen, slab-as-finish