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Polished Concrete VS. Grind & Sealed Concrete
2021-12-28

Both polished concrete and grind & sealed concrete floors are great flooring solutions, and they can look almost identical. Due to their similar appearances, many consumers are not aware of the differences between polished concrete and grind & sealed concrete floors. This can result in confusion when  gathering information for your project. However, the finish of polished concrete and grind & sealed concrete floors is achieved by completely different processes.


Appearance

Sometimes it may be hard to spot the difference between polished concrete and grind & sealed concrete because they can look almost identical. Both polished and grind & seal concrete floors can have a matte, satin or gloss appearance. However, the finish no matter matte, satin or gloss is achieved in unique processes. For polished concrete, the concrete is polished using finer grits of diamond tools until the floor reaches the desired level of shine. However, with sealed concrete, the finish is achieved from a topical sealer.


Another appearance difference is grind & sealed concrete has a more consistent appearance from one concrete floor to the next. The reason is the high performance sealer is consistent on each application because it is not reliant on the concrete’s profile, unlike polished concrete. This may be beneficial for those looking to match sealed concrete floors throughout their space. With polished concrete, the finished look can vary from concrete to concrete because a different canvas is presented and extraneous factors can affect the final finish, such as the level of hardness or imperfections.


Color stains can be applied to both polished concrete and grind & seal concrete floors. Therefore, both polished concrete and sealed concrete can be referred to as “stained concrete”. Be sure to clarify with your concrete flooring company which system will be used if you are requesting a stained concrete floor.


Durability

When choosing between polished concrete and grind & seal concrete, it’s important for you to understand your project’s space and desired level of durability. Whether the area is with heavy traffic or the area prone to spills.


Polished concrete offers long-term durability and includes benefits of densifying, hardening, and dust-proofing. This system is recommended in high volume spaces because it has a scratch resistant finish and requires minimal maintenance. It also lasts for decades when properly maintained. However, with grind & seal concrete floor, your surface may need to be resealed annually depending on the traffic level. For larger spaces, this can ultimately be more expensive than polished concrete.


Grind & seal concrete help protect against the ares with stains, oils and grease, etc. If needed for your space, these sealed concrete floors can utilize chemical resistant polyurethane sealers, allowing the floor to easily be cleaned away of stains that could typically cause permanent damage to other flooring systems. For example, if a restaurant is opting for polished concrete throughout the restaurant, it would be recommended to install sealed concrete in the bathrooms. The combination of polished concrete and sealed concrete floors in the restaurant will maintain a cohesive appearance and also deliver the benefits of each system.


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