Compared
Polished concrete vs power floated
A power floated floor is the slab as it's finished on the day of the pour. A polished floor starts there: the slab must be power floated first, then cured, ground, densified and polished (PMAC, PMAC). Power floating is part of the pour; polishing is €90 to €150 a m² on top (PMAC).
- €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
Side by side
The two side by side
| Power floated | Polished | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The slab, smoothed by machine as it sets | The same slab, ground and polished after curing |
| Looks | Smooth, darker patches and trowel marks | Even, from cream to exposed stone, matt to gloss |
| Cost | Part of the pour; one homeowner was quoted €100 a m² to pour | €90 to €150 a m² |
| Where | Garages, sheds, workshops, a slab to be covered | Living spaces, kitchens, shops, offices |
| Dust | Dusts unless it's sealed | Densified and sealed |
Pour price: one homeowner's quote on Boards.ie, June 2022. Polished: PMAC.
The step between
Power floated, then polished
A cream polish, PMAC's bronze finish, involves minimal grinding: it polishes the top of a well power floated slab. It's the lowest-cost polished finish (PMAC). The better the float, the better a cream polish looks.
Choose
Which you want
- A garage or workshop floor: power floated and sealed is usually enough.
- A floor you'll live on: polished. A raw floated slab dusts and marks.
- Not sure yet: have it poured and floated to be polished. You can decide on the polish after the 28 days.
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
Is power floated concrete the same as polished?
No. Power floating finishes the slab as it sets. Polishing grinds and polishes it after at least 28 days of curing (PMAC).
Can a power floated floor be polished later?
Yes, that's how a polished floor is made. PMAC asks for the slab to be power floated to an SR1 level finish.
Is a power floated floor good enough for a house?
As a finished floor, most people find it too raw: it dusts and stains unless sealed. It's the right base for a polish.
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