All three start with diamond grinding the same slab. What changes is what happens next: refining the concrete itself, sealing it, or covering it with a resin system. Here’s how to choose.
Polished concrete
Polished concrete is the slab itself, ground with progressively finer diamonds, densified with a chemical hardener, and polished to the level of shine you choose. There’s no coating on top to wear through or peel.
- Looks: natural concrete, from a matte to a high-reflection finish. The slab’s character shows.
- Best for: retail, offices, showrooms, warehouses and new slabs in good condition.
- Maintenance: low. Regular cleaning and occasional burnishing.
- Limits: it can’t hide stains, heavy patching or a badly damaged slab, and it’s less resistant to chemical spills than a coating.
Grind and seal
Grind and seal is a faster, more budget-friendly finish. The slab is diamond-ground to remove glue, paint and the weak top layer, cracks are repaired, and a clear sealer is applied to protect against dusting and stains.
- Looks: clean, honest concrete with a satin or gloss sheen.
- Best for: back-of-house areas, storage, studios, gyms and budget-conscious fit-outs.
- Maintenance: the sealer wears with traffic and is re-applied over time.
- Limits: less wear resistance than polished concrete or a coating in high-traffic areas.
Epoxy and resin coatings
A coating covers the slab with a bonded resin system: solid colour, flake, metallic or quartz, finished with a topcoat matched to the traffic and chemicals.
- Looks: anything from a plain safety grey to a custom metallic in your brand colours.
- Best for: industrial floors, auto service, food and wet areas, damaged slabs, and spaces that need colour or line marking.
- Maintenance: easy to clean. The topcoat can be re-coated when worn.
- Limits: it’s a surface layer, so heavy impact and abrasion eventually wear the topcoat.
Side by side
| Polished concrete | Grind and seal | Epoxy coating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What’s on top | Nothing, the concrete is refined | Clear sealer | Bonded resin system |
| Hides damage and stains | No | No | Yes |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate | Moderate | High, especially novolac |
| Colour options | Dyes and natural tones | Natural concrete | Unlimited |
| Maintenance | Low | Re-seal over time | Re-coat topcoat when worn |
| Slip resistance | Good when kept clean | Varies by sealer | Adjustable with additives |
How we help businesses choose
The slab often decides for you. A sound slab with nothing to hide is a great candidate for polished concrete. A slab covered in glue, patches and stains usually wants a coating. Chemicals, wet processes or forklifts point to an industrial system. We walk the floor, test it and recommend one in writing.
See all three on our commercial page, and our heavier systems, including self-levelling urethane cement, on the industrial page.
Want a straight answer for your floor?
We’ll look at the slab, test it, and tell you which system makes sense, in writing.