PB · 01Matt
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What it is
What is polished concrete
Polished concrete is a floor made by grinding and polishing a concrete slab in several stages to a smooth, reflective surface. Grinding exposes the aggregate in the concrete and gives the floor an industrial, architectural character.
The pores of the concrete are sealed with lithium silicate products, which makes the surface resistant to wear, water and oils. The reflective surface also makes better use of the light in the space.
Concrete can be pigmented during mixing or tinted after it is laid. We choose the level of sheen, from matt honed to high polish, according to the use and the design. It is done mainly indoors.
Polished concrete in a residential interior. Illustrative photograph
Uses
Where polished concrete is used.
Polished concrete is used in these spaces, with the right protective topcoat and a properly prepared substrate.
01 / Offices
Offices, company headquarters and corridors. A surface that makes a good impression and needs little maintenance.
02 / Retail & showrooms
Shops and showrooms with heavy foot traffic. A floor that does not need replacing.
03 / Industrial
Production plants, warehouses and logistics centres, where load-bearing capacity and wear resistance are needed.
04 / Lofts & residences
Open-plan layouts and industrial interiors, where the concrete stays as the finished, visible material.
Palette / 6 tones
How we choose the concrete tone
Concrete tones range from light grey to graphite. If you need a different tone, pigment is added to the mix or the surface is tinted after laying. The level of sheen is chosen independently of the tone.
The tone of the concrete depends on the aggregate in the slab itself. Before work begins, we grind a test area on your floor and agree on the sheen there.
Benefits
What you get
- 01A durable floor for decades of heavy use.
- 02Lithium silicate sealing gives resistance to wear, water and oils.
- 03Minimal maintenance: dry sweeping and an occasional wet mop.
- 04The reflective surface makes better use of natural and artificial light.
Installation process
Five steps, all by hand.
It all starts at your place, with an assessment of the space and the substrate. How long it takes depends on the floor area and on the condition of the substrate.
01
Assessing the slab
A survey of the existing concrete slab, or preparation for pouring a new one with a mix designed for its use.
02
Coarse grinding
Removing the surface layer and exposing the aggregate with diamond segments.
03
Fine grinding
Progressively finer grits until the surface is even and smooth.
04
Sealing
Impregnation with lithium silicate, which chemically hardens the surface and closes the pores.
05
Polishing
Final polishing to the chosen level of sheen, and a protective coat.
FAQ
Common questions.
Polished concrete: answers to the questions we hear most often from clients and the designers behind their projects.
Polished concrete is a concrete slab ground and polished to a smooth, reflective surface. It is ground in several stages with diamond segments until the aggregate in the concrete is exposed. The pores are then sealed with a lithium silicate product and the floor is polished to the chosen level of sheen. The concrete can be pigmented in the mix or tinted after it is laid.
With dry sweeping and a wet mop. The sealed surface resists wear, water and oils, so it needs no special products. A product that maintains the sheen is applied from time to time, depending on how much the floor is used.
It is not meant for outdoor surfaces. A polished surface is slippery when wet, so outdoors a rougher concrete is used, or a material designed for exteriors is chosen. For terraces and pool surrounds we recommend stone carpet.
From the blog
Before you decide
Microcement, epoxy or terrazzo? Types of flooring comparedMicrocement, epoxy, terrazzo, polished concrete, stone carpet and clay plaster compared in one table, and which type of flooring suits which room.Read the article
Best flooring for a terrace, stone carpet, tiles, terrazzo or epoxyHow to choose flooring for an open terrace: drainage, slip, sun and frost, joints. Stone carpet compared with tiles, terrazzo, epoxy and wood.Read the article
Enquiry
Send a quick enquiry.
Your enquiry will be tagged for Polished concrete. We get back to you with an estimate and a suggested appointment to see the samples.
We follow the same process on every project, from a flat to an office building.
Phone+381 65 290 09 95
Emailinfo@ardes.rs