Polished Concrete
Not a coating — a finish. Mechanically ground, densified, and polished into the slab itself. 20-30+ year lifespan. Zero coating to peel, yellow, or delaminate.
Grind, densify, polish
Polished concrete is produced by mechanically refining the slab itself through progressive grit levels. A lithium or sodium silicate densifier reacts with calcium hydroxide in the concrete to form calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), hardening the surface before the resin-bond polishing stages begin.
50 / 100 grit
Opens the slab. Removes surface contamination, coatings, curing compounds. Exposes aggregate per the specified CPAA exposure class.
Lithium silicate CSH reaction
Applied after initial grind. Hardens the surface, reduces porosity, prepares for resin-bond polishing stages.
200 → 400 → 800 → 1500 → 3000 grit
Progressive refinement. Never skip more than one grit. Each pass reflects the previous one's scratches out.
CPAA levels explained
Flat / Ground
Matte finish. Final grit under 100 resin. Ideal for warehouses where reflectivity doesn't matter.
Satin / Honed
Soft sheen. Stops at 400-grit resin. Common in retail and light commercial.
Semi-Polished
Visible reflection. 800-grit or higher. Restaurant dining rooms, showrooms.
Highly Polished
Mirror-like. 3000-grit or burnished. High-end retail, architectural spaces.
How much aggregate shows
The CPAA also defines aggregate exposure classes (A through D), independent of the polish level. Class A shows only the cement cream. Class D exposes large aggregate up to ¼ inch. Choice depends on the aesthetic and the slab's actual aggregate mix.
We assess your slab at quote time and recommend the right exposure class for the look you're after — some slabs won't support Class D without looking patchy, and that's worth knowing before install.
We assess your slab before we spec
Polished concrete advantages
20-30+ Year Lifespan
No coating to fail. The finish is the slab. Maintenance is re-polish at 2-3 year intervals, not replacement.
Sustainable
Uses the existing slab. No resin production, no VOC emissions, LEED-friendly.
Low Maintenance
Dust-mop + auto-scrubber. No waxing, no stripping, no re-seal cycles like coated floors.
How long it takes
Polished concrete is labor-intensive. Each pass covers roughly 2-4 hours per 1,000 sq ft. A 5,000-10,000 sq ft commercial polish takes 3-5 days start to finish.
Complementary services
Epoxy Coating
When the slab won't polish well or chemical resistance is critical.
Maintenance Plans
Scheduled re-polish keeps the finish at spec indefinitely.
Moisture Mitigation
High-MVER slabs may need mitigation before a coated alternative.
Considering polished concrete?
Retail, warehouses, restaurants, showrooms, modern residential. We assess the slab and spec the right CPAA level for the space.
Technical sources & standardsexpand_more
- CPAA (Concrete Polishing Association of America) — sheen level definitions (Levels 1-4) and aggregate exposure classes (A-D).
- Densifier chemistry: lithium, sodium, or potassium silicate reacting with Ca(OH)₂ to form CSH — industry standard for resin-bond polishing.
- Install timing: ~2-4 hours per 1,000 sf per pass per industry guidance.
- Lifespan estimate: 20-30+ years commercial; reseal/professional maintenance every 2-3 years.