Polished Concrete Near Me: When installing a polished concrete floor, there are a few decisions to make—some of which can cause confusion. We’re going to briefly break those down for you here. We have many resource pages linked below that go into these topics in more detail.

South Coast Flooring specializes in polished concrete and epoxy flooring in Orange County; Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Villa Park Newport Beach, Santa Ana and all surrounding areas

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POLISHED CONCRETE – THE NAME

The name, polished concrete, is a source of plenty of confusion. Does the name polish concrete refer to the level of reflectivity of the concrete surface? In fact, it does not. The name polished concrete signifies that penetrating sealers are used to increase the stain resistance of the concrete surface, not its level of reflectivity. While the industry standard level of reflectivity is a semi-gloss (800 grit diamond polish), polished concrete floors can be both matte and mirror finished.

One thing that’s consistent between the levels of reflectivity, however, is their finely honed surface. Polished is extremely smooth and consistent to the touch, regardless of the level of gloss. This is important because its smooth concrete surfaces that create a slip-resistant and durable flooring installation.

LEVEL OF REFLECTIVITY

As discussed above, one of the most important aesthetic decisions when installing polished concrete flooring is the level of reflectivity. While there’s no hard and fast rule, matte floors are often used in modern construction, while higher levels of reflectivity are used to increase light and openness in dark or cramped spaces. Regardless of the level of reflectivity, the performance of all the floors we install is identical—reflectivity is a purely aesthetic decision. Reflectivity has a minimal impact on the install price per square foot.

LEVEL OF AGGREGATE EXPOSURE

Another very important aesthetic decision is the level of aggregate exposure on a concrete floor. Aggregate exposure is achieved by removing the most superficial surface layers of the concrete prior to polishing. Because concrete is a combination of liquid cement, rocks, and sand, as you grind more material off of the surface of a concrete slab more aggregate will be exposed. These aggregates naturally separate by partial size in a poured concrete slab, meaning that grinding deeper into a slab will expose larger aggregates.

• A concrete slab that is polished without any aggregate removal is referred to as a cream-polished concrete floor. These will show some variations in the texture that are often compared to the natural variations in a piece of marble. Because surface removal is time-consuming and adds cost, cream polishes are often used in residential construction as a way of saving on budget. That doesn’t mean they’re not great-looking floors though—when finished properly cream polished concrete floors can be very attractive.
• When the surface of a concrete slab is lightly ground to remove all of the marble-like variations, fine pieces of sand and rock are exposed. We refer to these types of floors as ‘salt and pepper’ polished concrete floors. These are commonly installed by retailers such as Costco, Walmart, and Home Depot, so these stores are a good place to see one of these floors in person. Because they offer a very homogenous surface finish, they’re the most commonly installed floor in luxury residential construction.
• A rock-cut concrete floor is one in which the concrete surface is heavily ground to expose large aggregates. Rock-cut concrete has a beautiful, terrazzo-like appearance that nicely compliments modern construction. While this finish is very desirable, it’s also the most expensive and time-consuming installation. These floors are best installed in either new construction or fully gutted renovations. The large amount of material removal required makes this finish difficult to achieve with obstacles such as trim or millwork.

How Much Do Polished Concrete Near Me Floors Cost?

Due to the fact that polished concrete floors have inherently low associated material costs, polished concrete is often the lowest-priced luxury flooring installation available.

For new construction projects, polished concrete floors generally price between four and seven dollars per square foot. The main factor that increases the cost of a polished concrete floor is the amount of material removal specified.

Because of the minimal amount of material removal, cream polished concrete floors are the most cost-effective installation available.

Benefits of Polished Concrete Floors

• UNRIVALED VALUE
• Most polished concrete floors we install are priced between $4 and $7 per square foot. For new construction projects, a polished concrete floor is generally about 75% less expensive than hardwood floors. Further, we guarantee pricing for 9 months after a bid is written, allowing you to comfortably plan your construction project.
• LOW MAINTENANCE
• Polished concrete flooring provides both a beautiful flooring installation and very low maintenance. Cleaning with a vacuum and microfiber mop is all that’s required. Harsh cleaning chemicals and floor wax are never needed to keep your entire floor looking great.
• INDUSTRIAL-GRADE DURABILITY Polished concrete is an industrial installation that we’ve adapted to meet the aesthetic requirements of luxury residential projects. Because of this, polished concrete provides a level of durability that’s difficult to match with any other type of flooring install.
• LONG SERVICE LIFEIn residential installation, a polished concrete floor can last upwards of twenty years without requiring professional maintenance. Because there’s no waxing or other maintenance, polished concrete floors are a great way of reducing waste.
• SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY Polished concrete floors are the most environmentally conscious flooring solution available. By choosing them in your home or business, you’re reducing lifetime waste by up to 97%. This reduction is due to the fact that we polish your existing concrete slab instead of adding additional material to the surface.
• HEALTHIER FLOORINGBy polishing concrete in your home or business, you’re making a commitment to the health of your family or employees. Unlike wood, carpet, or laminate floors, polished concrete floors don’t release volatile organic compounds into the air you breathe—chemicals that are linked to harmful respiratory and immune effects.