Finishes
Polished concrete finishes
The finish is set by how deep the grinding goes. A cream finish shows little stone; salt and pepper shows a moderate amount; a deeper grind shows more. The sheen runs from matt to the high gloss of PMAC's platinum finish.
- €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
By grind
How much stone shows
| PMAC's name | What it looks like | The grind |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze (cream polish) | Smooth, little stone showing | Minimal |
| Gold (salt and pepper) | Flecks of sand and small stone | About 2 mm off (PMAC, 2016) |
| Silver | More stone than gold; matt or satin | Deeper |
| Platinum | The highest gloss | Multiple grinding steps |
Names and descriptions from PMAC (PMAC, PMAC). Other suppliers use other names: standard, gold, platinum, or grade one to three (Selfbuild Ireland).
Price
What each finish does to the price
The bronze finish is the least expensive, as it involves no grinding. Platinum is the most expensive and, in 2016, PMAC said it was by far the most popular in houses. Selfbuild Ireland gives from €55 to €60 a m² for standard finishes on larger floors and over €120 to €130 a m² for the higher-end ones.
The sheen
Matt, satin or gloss
Sheen is how far the polishing goes, not a coat of varnish. PMAC's silver finish is offered matt or satin; its platinum finish has the highest gloss. Sealing with an impregnating seal doesn't change how it looks; topical or multi-coat seals add to the upkeep (PMAC).
Choose
Picking yours
- Ask for a sample on your own slab. Every pour has different stone.
- More stone means more grinding and a more uneven look; some people want exactly that.
- A gloss floor shows the light from every window. A matt one hides more scuffs.
- Use the photo preview to see the three looks in your own room.
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
What is a salt and pepper finish?
A grind that exposes a moderate amount of the sand and fine stone, so the floor is flecked. PMAC calls it gold.
Which polished concrete finish costs least?
The bronze or cream polish, which involves no real grinding (PMAC).
Can polished concrete be coloured?
Colour can be added to the concrete, and it's one of the things that moves the price (Selfbuild Ireland).
Is a gloss floor slippery?
PMAC says polished concrete is as slip resistant as polished marble, granite or porcelain, and is highly slip resistant when dry.
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