Maintenance
Cleaning and resealing polished concrete
Sweep and mop with warm soapy water, and don't use chemicals on it (PMAC). To keep the sheen, PMAC advises a buff and re-seal every two or three years; its Selfbuild piece says ideally once a year (PMAC).
- €90 to €150 a m²PMAC's published range for a polished concrete floor
- €20,000two quotes for 190 m² of mid-range polished concrete in a city new build, about €105 a m² (Selfbuild Ireland)
- 28 daysthe least time a new slab cures before it can be polished (PMAC)
- from €55a m² for a standard finish on floors over 100 m² (Selfbuild Ireland)
FreeNo obligationOne contractor rings you, not fiveNothing agreed until you accept a written price
Every day
Day to day
- Sweep or dust-mop the grit off: grit is what dulls it.
- Mop with warm soapy water; it deals with most spills (PMAC).
- No harsh chemicals (PMAC). Wipe up acids (wine, vinegar, citrus) and oil quickly.
- Felt pads under chair and table legs.
Resealing
Buffing and resealing
PMAC's 2016 advice differs between two pieces: a buff and re-seal every two or three years, or ideally once a year (PMAC). Busy kitchens and hallways need it sooner. A reseal takes a day, with the furniture out.
Marble and stone floors need stripping, polishing and resealing every one to three years, by PMAC's comparison.
Problems
Dull patches, stains and cracks
- Dull walkways: a buff and reseal brings them back.
- Stains: the sealer slows them; deep ones may need a local re-grind.
- Cracks: concrete cracks as it dries, sometimes months or years after the floor is laid (PMAC). Fine ones can be filled (PMAC).
- A floor gone wrong: a badly finished floor can often be ground and polished again.
See it first
Polished concrete in your own room
Take a photo of the room, pick a finish and a sheen, and see the floor polished before anyone quotes. Free, in under a minute.
- Upload a photo, or answer 4 questions.
- We pass it to one contractor that covers your county.
- They ring you with a written price.
Preview of your photo, not a guarantee. Your photo goes to Google's Gemini service to make the picture and isn't kept.
A photo that works
- Daylight, lights on if it's dull.
- From the doorway, so most of the floor is in the shot.
- A building site is fine: the slab, the plaster, the lot.
- Hold the phone level, not pointed at your feet.
Free quote
Get a price in 4 taps
Tap what you need and leave your number. It goes to one polished concrete contractor that covers your county, and they ring you back to look at the floor and give you a written price.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do you clean polished concrete?
Sweep, then mop with warm soapy water. No harsh chemicals (PMAC).
How often does polished concrete need resealing?
Every one to three years on PMAC's two pieces of advice (PMAC, PMAC).
How long does polished concrete last?
PMAC says it will last as long as the house.
Can a stained polished floor be fixed?
Usually. A contractor can re-grind and re-polish an area, though it can take time to match the rest.