Floor polishing
Concrete floor polishing on an existing slab
On an existing concrete floor, the only cost is the grinding and polishing (PMAC). PMAC's published range is €90 to €150 a m². Whether your slab polishes well depends on the concrete, what's been stuck to it and its cracks.
- €90 to €150 a m²PMAC's published range for a polished concrete floor
- €20,000two quotes for 190 m² of mid-range polished concrete in a city new build, about €105 a m² (Selfbuild Ireland)
- 28 daysthe least time a new slab cures before it can be polished (PMAC)
- from €55a m² for a standard finish on floors over 100 m² (Selfbuild Ireland)
FreeNo obligationOne contractor rings you, not fiveNothing agreed until you accept a written price
What's there
What to check first
- Is it concrete? Many Irish ground floors have a screed laid over the slab. A contractor can tell from a test grind.
- What was on it. Tile adhesive, carpet glue, paint and old self-levelling compound all have to come off.
- Cracks and holes. They can be filled with a grout or filler (PMAC), but they'll still show in the finish.
- The levels. Doors, thresholds and the kitchen plinth were set to the old floor height.
- Damp. An old slab with no membrane under it can bring moisture through.
Ask for a test area. It's the only honest way to see how your slab will look.
Two views
Can every floor be polished?
No. Ireland Microcement, which sells microcement, writes that polished concrete needs a new slab and major structural work in a renovation. PMAC, which polishes concrete, says an existing slab needs only the grinding and polishing. Both can be true: a sound slab can be polished, a poor one can't. If yours can't, microcement or a new topping are the usual alternatives. See polished concrete vs microcement.
The work
How the grinding is done
- A coarse grind with industrial diamond grinding machines (PMAC).
- Finer and finer diamond grits.
- A densifier to harden the surface.
- The final polishing passes to the finish you've picked, and a sealer or protective coating.
The machines grind wet or with dust extraction. Ask which, and how the rest of the house is protected while it's done.
Price
What floor polishing costs
| Job | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Polished concrete, the usual range | €90 to €150 a m² | PMAC |
| Standard finish, floors over 100 m² | from €55 to €60 a m² | Selfbuild Ireland |
| Floors under 100 m² | over €120 a m² | Selfbuild Ireland |
| Rural or away from the specialist's base: extra a m² | €20 to €30 a m² | Selfbuild Ireland |
| Light grind of a new slab, one homeowner's quote | €80+ a m² | Boards.ie |
None of these sources says whether its prices include VAT. Ask for every written price to say.
See it first
Polished concrete in your own room
Take a photo of the room, pick a finish and a sheen, and see the floor polished before anyone quotes. Free, in under a minute.
- Upload a photo, or answer 4 questions.
- We pass it to one contractor that covers your county.
- They ring you with a written price.
Preview of your photo, not a guarantee. Your photo goes to Google's Gemini service to make the picture and isn't kept.
A photo that works
- Daylight, lights on if it's dull.
- From the doorway, so most of the floor is in the shot.
- A building site is fine: the slab, the plaster, the lot.
- Hold the phone level, not pointed at your feet.
Free quote
Get a price in 4 taps
Tap what you need and leave your number. It goes to one polished concrete contractor that covers your county, and they ring you back to look at the floor and give you a written price.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Can I polish my concrete floor myself?
Hire shops rent grinders, but a polished finish takes heavy machines, a run of diamond tooling, a densifier, dust control and experience. A test grind by a contractor costs less than a ruined floor.
Can a polished floor go over old tiles?
No. Polished concrete is the slab itself. The tiles and adhesive come up first. Microcement can go over existing tiles.
Will the old cracks show?
Yes. They can be filled (PMAC), but a polished floor shows the slab's history. Many people like that.
Is floor polishing the same as polished concrete?
In Ireland, people search for both. On concrete it's the same job: grinding and polishing the slab.