Compared
Polished concrete vs power floated
A power floated floor is the slab as it's finished on the day of the pour. A polished floor starts there: power floated first, then cured, ground, densified and polished. Power floating is part of the pour; polishing is €90 to €150 a m² on top.
Free, no obligation. One local polished concrete contractor prices it, not five.
Side by side
The two side by side
| Power floated | Polished | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The slab, smoothed by machine as it sets | The same slab, ground and polished after curing |
| Looks | Smooth, darker patches and trowel marks | Even, from cream to exposed stone, matt to gloss |
| Cost | Part of the pour | €90 to €150 a m² |
| Where | Garages, sheds, workshops, a slab to be covered | Living spaces, kitchens, shops, offices |
| Dust | Dusts unless it's sealed | Densified and sealed |
The step between
Power floated, then polished
A cream polish needs the least grinding: it polishes the top of a well power floated slab, and it's the lowest-cost polished finish. The better the float, the better a cream polish looks.
Choose
Which you want
- A garage or workshop floor: power floated and sealed is usually enough.
- A floor you'll live on: polished. A raw floated slab dusts and marks.
- Not sure yet: have it poured and floated to be polished. You can decide on the polish after the 28 days.
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.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is power floated concrete the same as polished?
No. Power floating finishes the slab as it sets. Polishing grinds and polishes it after at least 28 days of curing.
Can a power floated floor be polished later?
Yes, that's how a polished floor is made: power floated to an SR1 level finish first.
Is a power floated floor good enough for a house?
As a finished floor, most people find it too raw: it dusts and stains unless sealed. It's the right base for a polish.
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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.
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