Real polished concrete, or a polished concrete effect? The honest answer first

If you have searched for a polished concrete floor for your home, there is something worth knowing before you go further, because most companies will not tell you: the polished concrete look you have seen on Pinterest and in design magazines is, nine times out of ten in a house, not actually polished concrete. It is a microcement or cement-composite overlay that gives the same seamless, matt-to-satin concrete finish without needing a structural concrete slab.

They are different products, at different costs, for different situations, and knowing which one you actually want will save you money and disappointment. We should be upfront about which we do: we specialise in the polished concrete effect, the overlay finishes described below. We do not grind and polish structural slabs, and we would rather tell you that clearly than take on the wrong job. Here is the honest difference so you can decide what you need.

True polished concrete, and why it is a different trade

True polished concrete is a structural concrete slab that has been mechanically ground with progressively finer diamond tooling, then densified and sealed until it takes on a sheen. The floor you walk on is the concrete itself.

It is the right answer when there is already a sound concrete slab to work with, or a new slab is being poured as part of the build, and you want that genuine industrial material honesty. It suits open-plan new builds, barn and warehouse conversions, and industrial spaces designed around exposed concrete from the outset. The look depends on how much aggregate is exposed during grinding, from a smooth cream finish, through a fine salt-and-pepper, to fully exposed stone.

One thing worth knowing if a truly seamless floor is what you are after: traditional polished concrete and power-floated slabs usually have expansion joints and crack-inducement cuts designed into them, so the surface is deliberately broken up and rarely looks as seamless as a microcement overlay. That is one of the main reasons homeowners who want the uninterrupted concrete look end up choosing the effect.

This is specialist concrete grinding work and it is not what we do. If you have a slab you specifically want ground and polished, you need a concrete polishing contractor, not us. What we do, and do a great deal of, is deliver the same seamless concrete look as an overlay, which for most homes is the better route anyway. Here is why.

A polished concrete effect: microcement and cement overlays

For most homes, the smarter route to the polished concrete look is an overlay. A microcement or cement-composite system is applied by hand over your existing substrate, whether that is tiles, screed, timber or an old floor, then sealed. You get the seamless concrete finish with several advantages a ground slab cannot offer:

• No slab required. It works over what you already have, so there is no ripping the room back to bare ground.
• More control over the look, and genuinely seamless. Colour is chosen rather than left to the concrete, the finish is more consistent, and without the expansion and crack-inducement joints a structural slab needs, the surface runs unbroken across the room.
• Modest build-up. A full overlay system is typically around 10mm, with the microcement finish itself as little as 2 to 3mm, so we always check door and threshold heights at survey but levels are rarely a problem in a refurbishment.
• Efficient with underfloor heating. Because the surface is much thinner than a tile, it takes less energy to bring up to temperature, and it works with both wet and electric systems.
• Workable in any room, including kitchens, bathrooms and wet rooms, where a structural polish is impractical.

This is the finish we install most often in homes, and it is what people usually mean when they ask us for polished concrete.

Which systems we use for the effect

MicroCrete Microcement is our trademark microcement, with a natural palette and colour matching to most popular paint colours. Kerakoll Cementoresina is the Italian designer cement-resin finish, and we are the UK’s longest-established Kerakoll partner. Pandomo systems (Floor, Loft and Studio) give a polished, terrazzo-adjacent look. For the room-specific versions, see our resin and microcement kitchen floors and microcement bathrooms and wet rooms pages.

What does a polished concrete effect floor cost?

An overlay cannot be quoted precisely without knowing the space. The factors that set the price are: floor area in square metres (smaller areas cost more per square metre because set-up is fixed), the substrate and its condition, which system and finish you choose, the amount of edge and detail work, and location. As a guide, for areas over 42 square metres budget from £140 + VAT per square metre; smaller areas carry a higher per-square-metre rate because set-up costs are fixed. For a precise figure, our quick estimate system takes two minutes. For more on what affects the price, see our microcement and resin flooring cost guide.

Where a polished concrete effect floor works

Open-plan living and kitchens, hallways and utility spaces, bathrooms and wet rooms as an overlay with correct tanking, and outdoor and patio areas with the right specification.

Polished concrete questions, answered honestly

Is polished concrete the same as microcement?

No, and this is the most useful thing to understand. Polished concrete is a ground and sealed structural concrete slab. Microcement is a thin overlay applied over an existing surface to imitate that look. In homes, the microcement polished concrete effect is usually the more practical choice because it does not require a slab and gives more control over colour and consistency. We explain the full comparison in our microcement vs polished concrete guide.

Can I have a polished concrete floor over my existing floor?

If you mean the effect, usually yes: a microcement overlay can be applied over sound tiles, screed and concrete at only 2 to 3mm, and it is also possible over prepared timber joisted substrates, subject to the application of cement boards first. True ground polished concrete cannot be added over another floor; it requires a concrete slab to grind.

Is polished concrete cold or slippery?

A structural polished slab can feel cold and, when sealed to a high sheen, can be slippery when wet. A microcement overlay pairs well with underfloor heating, and because it is much thinner than tile it warms up efficiently. It can also be sealed with enhanced slip resistance for wet areas. We advise on the right finish for the room.

Does polished concrete crack?

A structural slab can show shrinkage cracks and joints as an inherent characteristic of concrete; some owners like that honesty of material, others do not. A correctly installed overlay over a stable substrate, with movement provision at junctions, is less likely to crack. Most cracking stories trace back to substrate movement or missing detailing, which is why we survey before quoting.

How long does a polished concrete effect floor take?

It depends on the system and the preparation. An overlay is a layered application with curing time between coats. We give a realistic timeline at survey and sequence around other trades.

Can you match a specific colour?

With the overlay, yes. MicroCrete can be matched to most popular paint colours and has its own natural palette. Kerakoll offers 10 warm colours to choose from. True polished concrete takes the colour of the concrete and aggregate, with far less control.

Not sure which is right for your space? Send us a photo with the quote form and we will tell you honestly which finish suits your project. Get a quote or call +44 20 7096 8990.