The difference between a grind and seal and polished concrete

Polished concrete is a popular service we are asked about frequently. Funnily enough, most of the time the 'polished concrete' that you’ve seen recently, and are referring to is actually a grind and seal or otherwise known as Honed Concrete. The words "polished concrete" are actually one of the most commonly misused industry terms - they differ greatly regarding the processes involved in each finish, such as the duration of works, durability and of course, cost.

Both Polished as well as Grind & Seal concrete floors can have a matte, satin, or glossy appearance. However, these finishes are achieved with unique processes between the two.

Polished concrete  is achieved by grinding the surface in multiple passes, each time with finer and  finer grit pads on the grinder until the concrete surface itself is glossy.

The shine in a Grind & Seal is achieved through the type of sealant applied, so the two can have similarities in appearance, but the source of the 'polished look' is different.

Both options can have a stain applied, which means if you're asking for 'stained' concrete - the next discussion to be had is whether you want it Polished or a Grind & Seal. Both are great options when considering a decorative concrete, Gold Coast homes suit so well.

Durability

Both Polished Concrete and a Grind & Seal offer a difference in terms of durability.

As polished concrete is ground, densifiers are added to increase the hardness of the surface. If the area you are planning on polishing will be a high traffic environment such as a warehouse or main walkway, this is a better option.

Grind & Seal concrete does offer a lot in terms of durability, however, as it is more of a surface-treatment, when used in high traffic areas and places that may have cars or forklifts transiting through the space, the sealant can be worn down and may need re-sealing every couple of years.

On the contrary, if your space is going to be prone to spills, oil stains and grease etc. a Grind & Seal finish will serve you better. This is because Polished Concrete is slightly more porous which can be a bit of a nightmare around these kinds of spills.

There may be different rooms in your establishment where Grind & Seal concrete would suit better such as the bathrooms where there tends to be a lot of moisture on the ground at regular intervals. Kitchens also tend to cop a lot of spillage and stains so a Grind & Seal would also be recommended here.

There are many kinds of sealants, and we can help you choose the right one for the purpose of the flooring system, such as chemical-resistant polyurethane sealants which allow the easy cleaning of spills such as greases, oils, urine etc.

Cost

Polishing a concrete floor is more work than grinding and sealing. But if you're interested in having your floors nice-looking but on a smaller budget, we recommend choosing to go with a grind and seal.

The labour-intensive process of getting that shine come through in polished concrete flooring systems requires a lot of time and energy. This is why it is more costly per square metre.

If you really do love polished concrete but want a more affordable option, we would suggest 'burnished' concrete. This is a surface-polish, without grinding down to expose the aggregate in the slab. Because only a thin layer is taken and polished over the top, it is a little quicker and cheaper to achieve than a Polished Concrete Finish with exposed aggregate.

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For those who want the absolute best possible finish, it is important that you know what exactly goes into your slab. Let your builder or concreter know what flooring system you intend on installing before the concrete slab is poured.

This will ensure that the slab is perfectly conditioned which is especially important for customers seeking Polished Concrete finishes.

If you would like to discuss the options further or seek some advice, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today. Feel free to give us a call  or leave us a message via our contact form .