Q: How much does concrete polishing cost?

Answer: This is usually the first question we get asked when it comes to polished concrete. The short answer is that Polished Concrete does cost a bit more up front versus a cheaper alternative like epoxy. Not to sound like a salesperson but in the long run, concrete polishing pays off big-time versus any other solution. These floors are almost bullet proof and stand the test of time, are easy to maintain, are safe, and are stunning to look at.

Q: How does the floor become so shiny?

Answer: There are several passes to polishing concrete. The first couple passes are rough passes to remove all the old surface. Then the passes are more fine which actually create the “polishing”. It’s not really unlike sanding wood at all. The finer the sandpaper the smoother the finish. With an uber-smooth finish the floor itself starts to appear mirror-like and reflects light. This can actually help light your facility and cut down on energy costs.

Q: Can any concrete floor be polished?

Answer: Almost any concrete floor can be polished, yes. We like to inspect the slab first to ensure that it is a good candidate for success. It really doesn’t matter if the slab is a century old or was poured last month. Most every floor is a good candidate and will benefit from durability, longevity, and aesthetics that come from concrete polishing.

Q: Is concrete polishing messy?

Answer: Dry concrete grinding (polishing) is a relatively clean process. As you could imagine, the grinding does create dust but we use state-of-the-art vacuums side by side with our grinding machines and that picks up 95+ % of the dust. The rest is swept up and discarded. Our process is much cleaner and there are no fumes like with epoxy.

Q: Does your system include applying sealer to the floor?

Answer: Polished concrete is stain resistant on its own but sealers can be used to further seal and protect the floor from stains and etching. It depends on your application and our consult whether or not we end up sealing your new floor.

Q: Are Concrete Floors Slippery in nature?

Answer: Concrete polishing creates such a smooth glass-like finish and it does appear as if it would be slippery but in fact, it is not. Polished concrete is one of the safest surfaces for anti-slip that you can have. Tests have shown that polished concrete has more grip than that of a VCT tiled floor, epoxy, or even hard troweled concrete and meets or exceeds OSHA standards.

Q: Is polished concrete hard to maintain?

Answer: Concrete polishing is actually very simple to maintain versus standard concrete, epoxy, VCT tile, etc. It does not require any chemicals / brushing to clean and is typically done by dry or wet mopping. The surface is so dense and smooth and is naturally stain resistant. Maintenance is a breeze with polished concrete flooring.

Q: Why choose polish concrete instead of epoxy, VCT, or other coating?

Answer: Polished Concrete is unlike other coatings because of how dense the finish is. Standard coatings wear and will need maintenance and/or re-applied when concrete polish simply holds up. You won’t have to shut departments down to re-apply other coatings or to maintain your new polished concrete floor. Concrete polishing is amazing when it comes to holding up to fork lifts, foot traffic, and any machines that are wheeled through the areas.

Q: Can you polish my floors that have radiant heat?

Answer: Yes. The pipes in radiant heat are typically 4-5″ below the surface of the floor. It’s part of the quality assurance process to confirm the depth before we start polishing just to ensure there won’t be any surprises.

Q: How long do polished concrete floors last?

Answer: Polished concrete is so dense and smooth that with the proper care, it can easily last a lifetime. How long can we expect the shiny finish to last?

Our certified step by step process ensures that your floors can retain that mirror-like finish for decades without having to do very much to them at all. It really depends on the amount of abuse you put them through but there is no tougher commercial / industrial solution out there. If in 20 years the sheen has worn we can come back in and re-do the last couple steps to redeem the sheen. Unlike having to pay the same price (or more) with epoxy or VCT every 5 or so years, it will never cost as much as the original quote and that is ‘if’ you ever need it.

Q: Is polished concrete a “green” alternative?

Answer: Yes. Concrete polishing is by far one of the most “green” or sustainable options out there. There are typically LEED Credits available for polished concrete. Click here to find out more.

Q: What kind of warranty comes with polished concrete?

Answer: Not all site conditions will allow warranty, but we warranty the majority of our projects for 2 years. We would be glad to provide a warranty option based upon a project review.

Q: Is polished concrete better than epoxy? Epoxy vs Polished concrete?

Answer: Polished concrete will not crack, peel, or flake like epoxy coatings or urethane coatings. Polished concrete will out perform epoxy on a 20yr maintenance cycle for yearly cost breakdown. Not all site conditions favor polished concrete over epoxy. A full site review would be needed to determine.

Project Examples

Professional & Courteous

Commercial Painting Services has over 20 years experience and our staff is highly knowledgeable. We offer Commercial / Industrial Painting (Interior & Exterior), Concrete Floor Polishing, Elastomeric Roof Coating, Metal Roof Leaks Repair, Epoxy Flooring, & Commercial / Industrial Pressure Washing. Call us today to schedule your free in-person consultation and to receive a free estimate. (517) 639-1464