Concrete floors are all the rage at the moment. From hip residential homes to chic cafes and sensational supermarkets, it seems as though everybody is jumping aboard the trend. Even people and businesses who have old, crumbling concrete floors are looking to join in, and are booking in to reinvigorate their floors with new and stylish concrete surfaces. But does that mean they have to go to all the expense and effort of having a new concrete floor put down? Not necessarily!
A concrete grind and seal is an ingenious and affordable way of making old concrete floors look and feel new again. Over time, a concrete surface might start to scratch, and there can be problems with the finish. These issues, however, are usually limited to merely impacting the surface of the slab. The concrete further down, which has been lying dormant, might still be of pleasing quality.
The concrete grind and seal procedure removes the top, aged layer of a concrete floor, leaving a surface that looks bright and new. And, we are happy to report, this procedure is extraordinarily cost-effective; grinding and sealing an old surface can end up costing a mere fraction of the cost of a new floor, with a very similar result.
Our team at Policrete has years of experience in grinding and polishing concrete, and have helped to breathe new life into countless old floors. Read on to find out more about getting a grind and seal for a concrete floor, and get answers for all of those burning grind and seal questions.
Policrete can help with all your concrete grind and seal needs. Find out more about the grind and seal services we can provide, and let us transform your old surfaces into something spectacular.
What is the process for grinding and sealing concrete?
As the name implies, the grind and seal process can be broken down into two distinct phases:
A) grinding, and
B) sealing
Grinding
In the first stage, the concrete substrate is ground back. We use a variety of speciality grinders for this process, in addition to other pieces of equipment. For example, because grinding concrete causes many small and potentially harmful particles to launch into the air, we use 3 Phase HEPA 13 Dust Extraction Units to protect our team and your property from excessive exposure to dust.
Sealing
At the sealing stage of the job, we apply a finish to the surface. There are a host of pleasing finishes on offer, with matte, semi-gloss and high gloss options. Some finishes require more resources and are more technically involved than others, so this decision can impact the overall price and timeline for your floors.
What does concrete grind and seal cost?
The cost of concrete grinding and sealing per square metre is much lower than the cost to get a new concrete surface. It can even be cheaper than other so-called affordable flooring types, like carpet and tile. There's no one set price for the service, however, because of the many variables involved. Some of the factors that can impact the cost include:
- Equipment and personnel: Every concrete grind and seal job will require concrete grinders capable of mechanically grinding down your old concrete floors. Depending on the condition of the existing surface, this process can vary in length and expense. A relatively unscathed floor might only need a few millimetres ground off the surface, while a more damaged floor will require more work.
- Design choices: You have lots of options when you select a grind and seal finish. There is a world of aesthetic possibilities at your feet. You get to choose what the finished product looks like, from the colour and aggregate to the sheen of the finish. These decisions will have an impact on the overall price of the job.
- On-site challenges: Some locations are easier to work on than others. A particularly challenging site can present delays and difficulties, and this can impact the price of a concrete grind and seal. If, for example, the site is hard to access, or the surface requires repairs before work commences, this will increase the cost of the grind and seal.
With an inexperienced concrete team, hidden difficulties and challenges can blow out the costs of a grind and seal. Our team at Policrete, however, has years of experience grinding and sealing old concrete floors. We know what to look for, and can estimate to a high degree of certainty what the overall costs of the work will be.
Talk to us about what you've got in mind, and we'll happily provide you with a complimentary quote for the job.
Can you grind and seal concrete yourself?
There are some construction jobs that are easy and efficient to do yourself. However, a concrete grind and seal is not one of those easy tasks. For your health and safety, and in the interest of getting a quality result, DIY concrete grinding and polishing is highly inadvisable.
Getting an even concrete grind requires the purchase and mastery of expensive speciality machines. They're heavy and high-powered; if you don't know how to use them, it won't just be hazardous for your floors — it can also be extremely dangerous.
Grinding a concrete floor is a task that should be left to trained professionals. At Policrete, for example, we have spent years honing our technique. We've spared no expense in finding the best possible ways how to grind concrete. If you're interested, our team will be happy to talk you through the process in more detail, and help you to appreciate just how involved and difficult the job of grinding and sealing a concrete floor can be.
What finishes are available for a concrete grind and seal?
After your concrete has been ground back to a point where it is smooth and level, it's time to apply a finish to seal the surface, give it a distinctive look, and protect it from wear and tear. There are numerous grind and seal finishes available, and picking the right one can make an extraordinary impact on appearance and durability. Some options include:
- Matte finish: Perfect for industrial environments, a matte finish will hide imperfections in the concrete and dirt won't show up on it as quickly as it will on other surfaces. A matte finish will create a more raw, natural look, but that doesn't mean its use is limited to heavy industry. Increasingly, interior designers are using this finish for residential settings and hospitality-oriented businesses.
- High gloss finish: Sleek and shiny, a high gloss finish can brighten up a room. Because of the nature of this finish, it can draw attention to any imperfections in a concrete slab. That might work for some concrete grind and seal jobs, where the concrete is still in relatively good condition, but in other situations, it might not be as appropriate. Our team can inspect your slab, and discuss whether or not this is an advisable finish.
- Semi-gloss finish: This is a great midpoint between the other two options. If you're looking for something a bit more luxe-looking than matte, and a high gloss finish isn't quite the right option for your rejuvenated surface, you might find that a semi-gloss finish is a perfect alternative.
- Burnishing: A burnished finish involves heating up a wax-based product, melting it, and buffing it onto the surface of your concrete. There are a wealth of different colours possible with a burnished floor, and the result will be a polished concrete floor that is shiny and resistant to damage.
After a good concrete grind by professionals, your old concrete floors will look as good as new, and be ready for just about any finish that would be suitable for a new, perfectly poured concrete floor.
Because of the nature of the grind and seal process, however, some finishes are better suited to a brand new concrete slab. A nil exposure finish, for example, where only a very minor grind has been undertaken, is practically impossible for a grind and seal floor. It requires a freshly poured concrete surface.
What is a concrete grind and shine?
There are many different technical terms in the concrete flooring industry, and some of them double up with each other. You may have heard of a concrete 'grind and shine' process, and wonder if this is a possible alternative to a concrete grind and seal.
In reality, concrete grind and shine are the same as a concrete grind and seal. It's just another way of describing the same technique. After your surface has been ground down and polished, a glossy concrete sealer will result in a shiny protective surface — hence the name.
Policrete can help with all your concrete grind and seal needs. Find out more about the grind and seal services we can provide, and let us transform your old surfaces into something spectacular.
What is the process for grinding and sealing concrete?
As the name implies, the grind and seal process can be broken down into two distinct phases:
A) grinding, and
B) sealing
Grinding
In the first stage, the concrete substrate is ground back. We use a variety of speciality grinders for this process, in addition to other pieces of equipment. For example, because grinding concrete causes many small and potentially harmful particles to launch into the air, we use 3 Phase HEPA 13 Dust Extraction Units to protect our team and your property from excessive exposure to dust.
Sealing
At the sealing stage of the job, we apply a finish to the surface. There are a host of pleasing finishes on offer, with matte, semi-gloss and high gloss options. Some finishes require more resources and are more technically involved than others, so this decision can impact the overall price and timeline for your floors.
What does concrete grind and seal cost?
The cost of concrete grinding and sealing per square metre is much lower than the cost to get a new concrete surface. It can even be cheaper than other so-called affordable flooring types, like carpet and tile. There's no one set price for the service, however, because of the many variables involved. Some of the factors that can impact the cost include:
- Equipment and personnel: Every concrete grind and seal job will require concrete grinders capable of mechanically grinding down your old concrete floors. Depending on the condition of the existing surface, this process can vary in length and expense. A relatively unscathed floor might only need a few millimetres ground off the surface, while a more damaged floor will require more work.
- Design choices: You have lots of options when you select a grind and seal finish. There is a world of aesthetic possibilities at your feet. You get to choose what the finished product looks like, from the colour and aggregate to the sheen of the finish. These decisions will have an impact on the overall price of the job.
- On-site challenges: Some locations are easier to work on than others. A particularly challenging site can present delays and difficulties, and this can impact the price of a concrete grind and seal. If, for example, the site is hard to access, or the surface requires repairs before work commences, this will increase the cost of the grind and seal.
With an inexperienced concrete team, hidden difficulties and challenges can blow out the costs of a grind and seal. Our team at Policrete, however, has years of experience grinding and sealing old concrete floors. We know what to look for, and can estimate to a high degree of certainty what the overall costs of the work will be.
Talk to us about what you've got in mind, and we'll happily provide you with a complimentary quote for the job.
Can you grind and seal concrete yourself?
There are some construction jobs that are easy and efficient to do yourself. However, a concrete grind and seal is not one of those easy tasks. For your health and safety, and in the interest of getting a quality result, DIY concrete grinding and polishing is highly inadvisable.
Getting an even concrete grind requires the purchase and mastery of expensive speciality machines. They're heavy and high-powered; if you don't know how to use them, it won't just be hazardous for your floors — it can also be extremely dangerous.
Grinding a concrete floor is a task that should be left to trained professionals. At Policrete, for example, we have spent years honing our technique. We've spared no expense in finding the best possible ways how to grind concrete. If you're interested, our team will be happy to talk you through the process in more detail, and help you to appreciate just how involved and difficult the job of grinding and sealing a concrete floor can be.
What finishes are available for a concrete grind and seal?
After your concrete has been ground back to a point where it is smooth and level, it's time to apply a finish to seal the surface, give it a distinctive look, and protect it from wear and tear. There are numerous grind and seal finishes available, and picking the right one can make an extraordinary impact on appearance and durability. Some options include:
- Matte finish: Perfect for industrial environments, a matte finish will hide imperfections in the concrete and dirt won't show up on it as quickly as it will on other surfaces. A matte finish will create a more raw, natural look, but that doesn't mean its use is limited to heavy industry. Increasingly, interior designers are using this finish for residential settings and hospitality-oriented businesses.
- High gloss finish: Sleek and shiny, a high gloss finish can brighten up a room. Because of the nature of this finish, it can draw attention to any imperfections in a concrete slab. That might work for some concrete grind and seal jobs, where the concrete is still in relatively good condition, but in other situations, it might not be as appropriate. Our team can inspect your slab, and discuss whether or not this is an advisable finish.
- Semi-gloss finish: This is a great midpoint between the other two options. If you're looking for something a bit more luxe-looking than matte, and a high gloss finish isn't quite the right option for your rejuvenated surface, you might find that a semi-gloss finish is a perfect alternative.
- Burnishing: A burnished finish involves heating up a wax-based product, melting it, and buffing it onto the surface of your concrete. There are a wealth of different colours possible with a burnished floor, and the result will be a polished concrete floor that is shiny and resistant to damage.
After a good concrete grind by professionals, your old concrete floors will look as good as new, and be ready for just about any finish that would be suitable for a new, perfectly poured concrete floor.
Because of the nature of the grind and seal process, however, some finishes are better suited to a brand new concrete slab. A nil exposure finish, for example, where only a very minor grind has been undertaken, is practically impossible for a grind and seal floor. It requires a freshly poured concrete surface.
What is a concrete grind and shine?
There are many different technical terms in the concrete flooring industry, and some of them double up with each other. You may have heard of a concrete 'grind and shine' process, and wonder if this is a possible alternative to a concrete grind and seal.
In reality, concrete grind and shine are the same as a concrete grind and seal. It's just another way of describing the same technique. After your surface has been ground down and polished, a glossy concrete sealer will result in a shiny protective surface — hence the name.
