How much does concrete polishing cost and what are my options?
Updated: Aug 5, 2021
Polished concrete is a great choice due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and low cost. Concrete pricing range greatly due to many variables in scope and size.
What are the different scopes of work for polished concrete?
There are three choices to make when determining a scope of work. The first is which level of aggregate you wish to have. There are three aggregate levels: stay in the cream cap, grind into a salt and pepper level or do full aggregate exposure . The second choice you have to make is what color you want the floor to be. We can dye the floor or leave it in a natural color. The third choice is what finish level or sheen you would like the floor processed to. You can pick a 200, 400, 800 or 1500 grit polish. There are different types of sealers to use also depending on this choice. For example, you wouldn't want to put polish guard as a sealer on a 200 grit floor as it would add sheen and lose the look of a matte finish.
What factors affect the cost?
When getting a quote for your concrete project the cost will vary depending on several factors….
Square footage. Obviously large jobs will cost less per square foot.
Scope of work. Aggregate exposure, dye, grit levels will all affect pricing.
Epoxy, thin set or glue removal? Removing surface contaminates are not a part of the finishing process.
Repairs needed? Often there are repairs needed.
How much edgework does the technician have to do? Walls, Parititions, etc require hand machine work which is more expensive.
Stairs or elevator for machine access? The size of machine we can put on a job site will affect the price.
For example, a 2000sqft warehouse with new concrete and no walls would cost around $3.50/sqft. A 2000sqft basement with older concrete, limited access, repairs, etc may run closer to $7.00/sqft.
What Are The Lowest Cost Options?
Many floors do not need to be polished, and many do not need to be ground to be functional. As a minimum scope of work we offer cleaning and sealing. This would involve cleaning the floor with a floor machine or automatic scrubber and then applying a high quality sealer. The next step beyond a simple clean and seal would be a grind and seal where we actually use a grinder to clean up the floor. From there you get into the different grit options and polishing discussed above.
What Other Options Do I Have?
Concrete polishing has its limits and sometimes you need something that is more of a coating type product vs a polished floor. We offer clear urethanes, colored urethane and epoxy floors, flake floors as well as a few other options. Please reach out to discuss your project and we will be happy to recommend a solution.
