Polished Concrete
Cost
UK Price Guide
What a polished concrete floor actually costs in the UK - the ranges, what moves the price, and how it compares with tile, wood and vinyl over the life of the floor.
How much does a polished concrete floor cost?
There is no single number, and any company quoting one without seeing your floor is guessing. The honest answer is that a polished concrete floor is priced on three things: which system your substrate needs, how much floor there is, and what condition it starts in.
The ranges below are a realistic starting point for budgeting. They assume a straightforward domestic or light commercial project with reasonable access and a sound substrate. Every project we price is confirmed with a free site survey and a written fixed quote before any work is agreed.
Cost by system
| System | Typical range (per m²) | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Grind & seal | £XX – £XX | Sound existing slabs, garages, workshops, budget-led projects |
| Mechanically polished (existing slab) | £XX – £XX | Existing concrete in good condition, extensions, new builds |
| New poured polished concrete | £XX – £XX | Self-builds, extensions, full renovations, underfloor heating |
| Concrete overlay | £XX – £XX | Existing tile, screed or timber where a new pour isn't practical |
| Microcement | £XX – £XX | Floors, walls, wet rooms and worktops; minimal build-up |
Note on these figures: ranges are indicative and exclude VAT, substrate remedial work and access equipment. They are a budgeting guide, not a quotation. Request a free written quote for an accurate figure on your project.
What moves the price
Floor Area
The single biggest factor, and it works against small rooms. Transporting industrial grinders, setting up dust extraction and mobilising the team costs the same for 20m² as for 200m², so the rate per m² falls sharply as area grows.
System Specified
A grind and seal on a sound slab is the most economical route. A full mechanical polish with multiple diamond grits and densifier costs more but delivers far greater clarity and durability. A new pour adds the concrete itself.
Substrate Condition
Cracks, old adhesive, paint residue, poor flatness or an unsuitable slab all need addressing before polishing. This is quoted separately after survey because it is impossible to assess accurately from photographs.
Aggregate Exposure
A salt-and-pepper finish removes minimal material. Full aggregate exposure means grinding deeper, which takes more passes, more diamonds and more time - and it is the finish most people picture when they think of polished concrete.
Colour & Dye
Natural grey is the baseline. Dyed floors, integral pigments and decorative additions such as mother of pearl or coloured aggregate add material and labour cost, and require more care during application.
Access & Hours
Upper floors, restricted access, live trading environments and out-of-hours working all add cost. Ground-floor projects with a clear run for machinery are the most economical to deliver.
Is polished concrete cheaper than tiles or wood?
Upfront, usually not. Over the life of the floor, usually yes - and it is the second number that matters if you intend to stay in the building.
| Flooring type | Service life | Replacement cycles in 30 years |
|---|---|---|
| Polished concrete | 25–30+ years | 0–1 |
| Ceramic tile | 15–20 years | 1–2 |
| LVT / vinyl | 10–15 years | 2–3 |
| Carpet | 5–10 years | 3–6 |
A polished concrete floor installed today will still be performing in 25 years with only periodic re-sealing. There are no replacement cycles, no disposal costs and no repeated disruption. On a 30-year view the comparison is rarely close, which is why commercial and education clients increasingly specify it on whole-life cost grounds. We can provide a whole-life cost analysis to support a business case - see our commercial polished concrete page.
How to get an accurate figure
A written quote takes a site survey. We measure the area, test and assess the substrate, discuss the finish you want and confirm access - then issue a fixed written price with no obligation.
If you would rather see the finishes before talking numbers, our showroom in Mold is the only dedicated polished concrete showroom in the UK. You can walk on the finishes, compare aggregate exposure levels side by side and see how each one behaves under light. Read more about our installation process or explore residential polished concrete floors, microcement and concrete overlay systems.
Polished concrete cost FAQs
Cost depends on the system, the area and the condition of the substrate. Grinding and sealing an existing slab sits at the lower end, a full mechanically polished floor in the middle, and a new poured floor with underfloor heating at the upper end. Smaller areas carry a higher rate per m² because mobilisation, machinery transport and setup are largely fixed costs. We provide a written fixed-price quote after a free site survey.
A significant part of any polished concrete project is fixed: transporting industrial grinders, setting up dust extraction, protecting adjacent areas and mobilising the team. Those costs are the same for 20m² as for 200m², so they are spread across more floor on a larger project. This is why a small utility room can cost nearly as much as a room three times its size.
Upfront, polished concrete usually costs more than mid-range tiles or engineered wood. Over the life of the floor the picture reverses. A correctly installed and maintained polished concrete floor performs for 25 to 30 years or more with only periodic re-sealing, whereas carpet is typically replaced every 5 to 10 years and LVT every 10 to 15. Compared on whole-life cost rather than installation cost, polished concrete is generally the lower-cost option.
The main variables are floor area, the system specified, the condition and flatness of the existing substrate, the level of aggregate exposure you want, whether any colour or dye is used, site access and floor level, and whether the work has to happen out of hours. Remedial work such as crack repair, levelling or removing old adhesive is quoted separately after survey.
Microcement is usually specified where a new pour is not practical rather than purely to save money. Because it is only 2 to 3mm thick and goes over the existing surface, it avoids break-out and disposal costs and adds almost no height, which can make the overall project cheaper even when the rate per m² is comparable. It also opens up walls, worktops and wet rooms, which a poured floor cannot do.
No. Site surveys and written quotations are free and carry no obligation. We measure the area, assess the substrate, discuss finishes and provide a fixed written price. You are also welcome to visit our showroom in Mold, North Wales to see the finishes in person before deciding.