Polished concrete — architectural floor, structural slab.

How polishing works

Polished concrete is achieved through a series of progressively finer diamond-grinding passes on the cured slab. We start at coarse grit (around 30 grit) to flatten the surface and expose aggregate where required, then work through medium and fine grits up to 800–3000 grit depending on the gloss level called.

Between passes the surface is densified with a chemical hardener (sodium or lithium silicate) that reacts with the calcium hydroxide in the cement to create a denser, harder surface. The result is a floor that's genuinely polished — not coated.

Aggregate exposure levels

• Cream finish. Minimal grinding. The cement cream at the surface is polished — no aggregate visible.
• Salt-and-pepper. Light grinding exposes the sand fines. Subtle texture, no large aggregate.
• Full aggregate. Deeper grinding exposes the large aggregate (typically 7–14mm stones). Strong visual statement, very durable.

Gloss levels

Three standard gloss levels: matte (400 grit), satin (800 grit), and high-gloss (1500–3000 grit). Each requires more grinding passes — and proportionally more cost. Commercial retail and showrooms often go high-gloss for the visual impact; residential typically lands at satin for a more liveable surface.

Standards we work to

• CPAA polished concrete classification (Australia)
• AS/NZS 4586 — Slip resistance

From our sites

Common questions