The natural, cement-look floor is one of the most requested finishes we do: soft, low-sheen and full of character, with little or no stone showing through. There is more than one way to get there. The right path depends on whether your slab is new or existing.
A natural finish is a soft, low-sheen concrete floor with little to no stone showing through the surface, giving a calm, organic, cement-look floor (often called burnished concrete, or matte / low-sheen polished concrete) that suits almost any space. It is one of the most popular looks we are asked to achieve, and it can be created in a number of ways. Which one is right for you comes down to the concrete you already have in place.
If you are pouring new concrete, the natural look is created by polishing the slab with the least grinding possible. If you have an existing slab, it can be created by resurfacing it or by a light, minimal-exposure polish. Each route has its own advantages, limitations and price, so it is always worth a quick chat with the OzGrind team to match the method to your budget and style.
There is no single "natural finish" product. It is a look, and there are four reliable ways to reach it. Here is how each one works, where it suits, and roughly where it sits on price.
If you are having new concrete poured, ask for a nil to minimal stone exposure Grind & Seal or Mechanically Polished Concrete in a matte finish. These do the least grinding possible, so little or no stone shows and you keep that smooth, natural cement look.
It is the hardest version for us to achieve because it relies entirely on a well poured slab, so ask our team for a copy of our new-slab pouring specifications before your concreter starts.
Have an existing slab? A feather finish is a cementitious topping trowelled over the top of your current concrete to create a natural, rustic look with real character. It covers the existing surface completely, so old damage and staining disappear and you are left with a continuous finish throughout the space.
It is a favourite for anyone after the hand-finished, individual cement look rather than a uniform polish, and it is available in a full range of colours and in either a matte or gloss finish.
If you have an existing slab but the feather finish look is not for you, ask for a minimal / random stone exposure Grind & Seal or Mechanically Polished Concrete in a matte finish. Keep in mind this grinds a little deeper than the nil-minimal option, so a touch more stone will show through.
This finish is extremely popular and is the lowest priced of the natural-look options, which makes it a great value way to get a soft, modern cement floor from the slab you already have.
A microcement or polished concrete overlay is a thin, hand-trowelled cement topping laid straight over your existing slab, usually only a few millimetres thick. It gives you the smooth, seamless, natural concrete look in a wide range of colours, and it is ideal when the slab underneath cannot be polished cleanly.
Like the feather finish, every floor is individual, with character that comes from the way it is laid by hand.
Whether it is a polished slab, a honed outdoor surface or a microcement overlay, the natural cement look carries across all of them. Here are examples of each.
A natural finish, sometimes called a cement floor finish or a natural polished concrete floor, is all about a soft, understated concrete look with very little stone on show. It is one of the most asked-for decorative concrete flooring styles we do across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and because there are several ways to achieve it, there is almost always an option to suit your slab and your budget.
On a fresh pour, the natural look comes from doing as little grinding as possible. A nil to minimal exposure polish in a matte sheen keeps the surface smooth and stone-free for that true cement finish. It is the most demanding version to deliver because it depends on a perfectly poured slab, which is why we share our new-slab specifications with your concreter before the pour.
If the slab is already down, there are three natural concrete finishes to consider. A feather finish trowels a fresh cement layer over the top to hide damage and create a rustic, characterful surface. A minimal / random exposure grind and seal is the lowest-priced route and gives a soft modern look using the concrete you have. A microcement overlay lays a thin, seamless cement topping straight over the slab in the colour of your choice. All three deliver the natural cement look without ripping anything up.
Every one of these finishes is sealed or protected so it holds up to daily life. Polished options are worked into or onto the slab and need very little upkeep, while feather finish and overlay surfaces are sealed to resist marks and moisture. We will walk you through the concrete floor treatments and finishes for concrete floors that make sense for your space, including the right level of slip resistance where you need it.
The natural finish is just one part of what we do. If you are weighing up the options it is worth looking at our full polished concrete service, mechanically polished concrete, grind and seal, honed concrete for outdoors, and our microcement overlays. Having every finish under one roof means the advice you get is about your project, not about selling one product.
We keep pricing open and simple. Try our free cost calculator for a quick estimate, browse our searchable FAQs, or send your details and we will come back within 48 hours with honest advice and a no-obligation quote. You can also visit our Eagle Farm showroom to see and feel each natural finish in person.
A snapshot of recent natural and cement-look concrete floors across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Tell us about your space and whether your slab is new or existing. We will come back within 48 hours with honest advice on the best natural finish for your budget and a no-obligation quote.
We create natural and cement-look concrete floors for homes and businesses right across South East Queensland.
A natural finish is a soft, low-sheen concrete floor with little or no stone showing, giving a calm, cement-look surface. It can be created several ways: a nil to minimal exposure polish on new concrete, or a feather finish, minimal exposure polish or microcement overlay on an existing slab.
On a new pour, we polish the slab with the least grinding possible for a nil to minimal stone exposure in a matte finish. On an existing slab, a natural cement look is achieved with a feather finish, a minimal exposure grind and seal, or a microcement overlay, depending on the condition of the concrete and the look you want.
Yes. The natural look does not need a new pour. A feather finish or microcement overlay covers the slab completely for a fresh cement look, while a minimal / random exposure polish brings out a soft finish from the concrete you already have.
On an existing slab, a minimal / random stone exposure grind and seal in a matte finish is the lowest-priced natural-look option. It uses the concrete already in place and gives a soft, modern cement look at the best value of the four methods.
A feather finish or microcement overlay covers the existing surface completely, so old damage and staining are no longer visible and you are left with a continuous, characterful finish. A polish, by contrast, refines the slab you have rather than covering it.
For outdoor areas we recommend a honed concrete finish, which is ground back and sealed to handle the weather and give better grip underfoot. Indoors, any of the natural finish options will suit. We will recommend the right approach for your space.
