How much stone shows, and how much it shines. The same slab, from nil to full and matte to high gloss.
Concrete is really just cement, sand and stone aggregate mixed together. When a slab is first placed, a thin layer of cement cream sits on top, so none of that stone shows. Polishing grinds that top layer away, and the deeper we grind, the more of the stone underneath we reveal.
So stone exposure is simply your choice of how much aggregate you want to see, from a smooth, even grey through to a rich, stone-filled look. We set it on every job: nil, minimal or full.
The same slab can look completely different depending on how far it is ground. Here is what each level looks like across real projects in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast floors.
A smooth, even grey with little to no stone showing.
A light, even scatter of the smaller stones, a subtle salt-and-pepper look.
The slab opened right up for a rich, terrazzo-like stone look.
Gloss is how much your floor shines, and it is a separate choice from stone exposure. You can have a full-exposure floor in a soft matte, or a nil-exposure floor in a high gloss. The two decisions are yours to mix.
How we reach that shine depends on the finish. A mechanically polished (MPC) floor is buffed mechanically through finer and finer grits, while a grind and seal floor gets its sheen from the sealer we roll on.
Mechanically polished concrete offers three gloss levels; grind and seal offers two. Here is each one on real floors.
A flat, low-sheen finish with almost no reflection.
A soft sheen with a gentle reflection.
A bright, near mirror-like shine, the most reflective MPC finish.
A matte or satin sealer for a low-to-medium sheen.
A gloss sealer for a wet-look, high-sheen shine.
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See every exposure and gloss level in person at our showroom before you decide.
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A snapshot of recent residential, commercial and industrial floors across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
"We just had our downstairs floors done in semi-exposed and we are very happy with the outcome. Ethan was fantastic, very efficient and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend."
"Great communication, completed faster than expected, professional team and excellent MPC floor at the end!"
"We have had a great experience with OzGrind. Expectations were surpassed, we now have a beautiful polished concrete floor that has transformed our home."
Two choices shape the look of any polished concrete floor: how much stone shows through (the exposure) and how much the floor shines (the gloss). They are set separately, so the same slab can read as a quiet, smooth grey or a rich, glassy, stone-filled surface depending on what you choose. Here is how both work in plain English.
Concrete is a mix of cement, sand and stone aggregate. When a slab is placed, a thin layer of cement cream settles on top and hides the stone. Polishing grinds that layer back, and the deeper we grind, the more of the stone underneath comes into view. Stone exposure is simply how far we take that, and it is your decision on every floor.
Nil exposure keeps the floor up at the cement layer for a smooth, even grey with little to no stone. Minimal exposure grinds a little deeper to bring up a fine, even scatter of the smaller stones, the look most people call salt and pepper. Full exposure grinds deeper again to reveal the larger aggregate for a bold, decorative, terrazzo-like finish. None is better than another; it comes down to the look you want and the slab you have.
Gloss is how much your floor reflects, from a flat matte through a soft satin sheen to a bright, near mirror-like high gloss. It is a separate choice from exposure, so you can pair any exposure level with any gloss level, whatever suits the room and the way you want the floor to feel underfoot and to the eye.
The two main polished finishes reach their shine in different ways. A mechanically polished (MPC) floor is buffed mechanically through finer and finer grits, and comes in three gloss levels: matte/satin, semi gloss and high gloss. A grind and seal floor takes its sheen from the sealer we roll on, and comes in two: a matte/satin, and a high gloss.
On a mechanically polished floor, a higher gloss does add a little to the cost, because each step up in shine takes more buffing passes through the finer grits. On a grind and seal floor it does not, because the gloss simply comes from which sealer we choose, not extra labour. We will always tell you upfront how your choice affects the price.
The easiest way to decide is to see the finishes in person. Visit our Brisbane showroom to compare exposure and gloss side by side, or send us photos of your space and we will talk you through what tends to work. When you are ready, try our free cost calculator or ask for a no-obligation quote, which we return within 48 hours.
Tell us about your slab and the look you are after, and we will come back within 48 hours with honest advice and a no-obligation quote.
We polish concrete floors in every exposure and gloss level for homes and businesses right across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and beyond.
Stone exposure is how much of the stone aggregate inside the slab is revealed when we grind and polish it. Every concrete slab contains stone, and grinding past the top cement layer brings it into view. The deeper we grind, the more stone shows.
Nil keeps the floor at the cement layer for a smooth, even grey with little to no stone. Minimal grinds a little deeper for a light salt and pepper scatter of the smaller stones. Full grinds deeper again to show the larger aggregate for a rich, decorative look.
Salt and pepper is the common name for minimal exposure, a fine, even speckle of small stones across the surface without the larger aggregate you get from a full grind.
Yes. Exposure is your choice on every job. On a new slab you can plan the aggregate before it goes down; on an existing slab we work with the stone already in it and grind to the level you prefer.
Mechanically polished concrete comes in three gloss levels: matte/satin, semi gloss and high gloss. Grind and seal comes in two: a matte/satin, and a high gloss.
On a mechanically polished floor, yes a little, because each step up in gloss takes more buffing passes through the finer grits. On a grind and seal floor it does not, because the gloss simply comes from which sealer we use.
No. Exposure is how much stone you see; gloss is how much the floor shines. They are set separately, so you can pair any exposure level with any gloss level.
It comes down to the look you want and the room it is going in. We show you samples at our showroom and talk through what suits your slab, then set the exposure and gloss to match.
