Weighing up your floors? Here is how polished concrete stacks up against tiles, carpet, timber and vinyl on lifespan, upkeep and lifetime cost, the types of polished concrete to choose from, and how to pick the right one for your home or business.
Most floors are something you buy and lay on top of your slab, then replace down the track. Polished concrete is different. It is the slab you already have, ground back and refined into the finished floor, so there is nothing to wear out, lift or replace.
That single difference shapes the whole comparison below. Carpet, vinyl, timber and tiles all carry an ongoing cost of upkeep and replacement. A polished concrete floor is finished once and then largely left alone, which is why it tends to win on lifetime cost even when the upfront price is similar.
A quick, honest comparison across the things that matter most over the life of a floor. Figures are indicative and vary with product and project.
Want the numbers for your own floor? Our cost calculator gives an indicative lifetime cost in a couple of clicks.
Cheaper than tiles? Up front they can be close, but with no grout to reseal and no cracked tiles to replace, polished concrete usually wins over time.
Cheaper than timber or laminate? Timber needs resanding and recoating and laminate is replaced every 10 to 15 years, so the lifetime cost of polished concrete is typically lower.
Cheaper than epoxy? They sit in a similar bracket. Epoxy is a coating that can wear and need recoating, while a mechanically polished floor is the slab itself and lasts far longer.
No more than tile, and often better. Concrete is a thermal mass, so it holds temperature: cooler through a Queensland summer, and warm underfoot when you run underfloor heating through the slab. In a well-designed home it helps even out the temperature rather than making it cold. Rugs in living areas soften the feel if you want them, without giving up the easy-clean, allergen-free surface.
"Polished concrete" covers a few different finishes. Here is the quick version, with links to the detail.
Ground, densified and polished to a matte/satin, semi gloss or high gloss sheen. The premium, longest-lasting finish.
Ground back then sealed with a topical coating. A cost-effective, hard-wearing way to get the concrete look.
A matte, low-sheen grind and seal, ideal outdoors and anywhere a softer, non-reflective look suits.
Industrial diamond grinders and experienced operators for a flawless, even finish, every time.
Industrial extraction and silica management keep your home or business clean and safe throughout.
A clear, no-obligation quote within 48 hours, with the right finish recommended for your space and budget.
From a single living room to a full retail fit-out, one trusted, fully insured contractor for both.
"We have had a great experience with Oz grind. Expectations were surpassed, we now have a beautiful polished concrete floor that has transformed our home."
"OzGrind did a fabulous job of lifting the tiles and mechanically polishing the slab in our 1970s house. We were really nervous about doing it but are thrilled with the result. I initially chose OzGrind because they were the only company I could find that both lifted tiles and polished the concrete. In the end, their professionalism and communication far exceeded any other company I dealt with."
"The operations and quoting team @ OzGrind are the best in their field that I have spoken to in Queensland. Their communication on the overall concrete polishing process was impeccable. Best in class."
Tell us about your space and whether your slab is new or existing. We will come back within 48 hours with honest advice and a no-obligation quote.
We polish concrete floors for homes and businesses right across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Tiles can look cheaper up front, but over the life of the floor polished concrete usually works out cheaper. There are no grout lines to reseal, no cracked tiles to replace and no ongoing replacement cycle, so once your slab is polished the running cost is very low. For a real figure on your project, try our cost calculator or ask us for a free quote.
Over time, yes in most cases. Timber needs resanding and recoating and laminate is usually replaced every 10 to 15 years, while a polished concrete floor is the slab you already have and lasts the life of the building with only an occasional reseal. The upfront price is similar, but the lifetime cost is lower.
Polished concrete is no colder than tile and it works very well with underfloor heating because the slab holds and radiates warmth. In a well-designed home it can actually help even out temperature, staying cooler in summer and warm underfoot when heating is run through the slab.
The main finishes are mechanically polished concrete (ground, densified and polished to a chosen gloss), grind and seal (ground then sealed with a topical coating) and honed concrete (a matte, low-sheen grind and seal, popular outdoors). Each gives a different look, durability and price point.
Polished concrete is one of the most hard-wearing floors you can have. It is the structural slab itself, so it handles heavy traffic, furniture, pets and trolleys without wearing through, and it will not tear, dent or lift like carpet, vinyl or timber.
If you already have a concrete slab, polishing it is often the best value option because you are finishing the floor you already own rather than buying and laying a separate floor on top. It removes the cost and waste of tiles, timber or vinyl and gives a durable, low-maintenance result.
