Polished Concrete Flooring Costs: Is It Worth the Investment?

Floor improvements and upgrades can be quite satisfying especially when you see the finished product. However, it cannot be denied that before you decide as to whether you want a project to proceed, you first have to consider the actual costs that come with it and if it would be worth your investment. The same goes for polished concrete. Sure, it is a popular trend and it does look good on almost any surface, but is it worth it?

The Art of Concrete Polishing

Concrete polishing is a type of decorative concrete upgrade that involves grinding and sealing a concrete floor’s surface until it becomes smooth and shiny. It has gained popularity because of its simple but aesthetically pleasing look. It is also considered as one of the most affordable methods of refinishing an old concrete floor.

First, the old floor is cleaned and prepared. Then, using a polishing machine, an embedded disk with a coarse grit is used to grind the top layer of the floor. Several grinding sessions would follow, each time using a finer grit than the one used before it. The number of grinding sessions depends on how much sheen is desired. After all the grinding is done, it is cleaned once again to remove dust and debris before a sealer is applied to protect the floor and make the shine a lot more pronounced.

Should You or Shouldn’t You?

One helpful factor to determine the total polished concrete floors cost is to have your floor assessed by a professional contractor. Here are some important questions to consider:

• How rough is the surface?
• How many grindings will it require to achieve a smooth finish?
• How wide is the area that needs to be polished?
• Will there be additional applications done after polishing, like staining or scoring?

The more grinding sessions required, the higher the pricing. Additional applications would, of course, add to the total expense but you would be surprised to know that wider areas may be a lot more economical than polishing smaller spaces. Why? Because smaller spaces, especially in residential properties, would require contractors to acquire smaller equipment and additional protective and disposing paraphernalia to keep the closed area free from floating dust and debris. Also, it can be difficult to acquire a more consistent polishing with smaller equipment.

How Much Polished Concrete Flooring Costs

It is a must to hire a pro who is experienced enough to know how to polish concrete efficiently. This requirement alone may already add to the cost but the results will definitely be worth it. You would not want to spend more money to repair a botched job done by an incompetent contractor, would you? It is also important to note that prices may vary depending on your location. Here is a rough breakdown of how much it could cost to have your concrete floor polished:

• $3/sq. ft.: Basic – This includes only a few grinding sessions for either residential or commercial floors.
• $3 to $7/sq. ft.: In-Depth Grinding with Additional Applications – This includes more levels of grinding, staining, or scoring for either residential or commercial floors.
• $6 to $12/sq. ft.: Small Space Grinding – This is often for small residential areas that require smaller machines.

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