A grind and seal floor keeps the honest, industrial look of your concrete and protects it. We diamond grind the slab to a clean, even surface, then build a 3-layer clear seal system finished with a Hi-Wear 90 topcoat. It’s our most affordable concrete floor, starting at $5 per square foot across the Lower Mainland.
What is grind and seal?
Grind and seal is a concrete floor that’s diamond ground and then sealed with clear coats instead of coloured flake or paint. You keep the raw, industrial look of the slab, with a sealed surface that resists stains and wipes clean. Wish Coatings’ system starts at $5 per square foot.
How does our grind and seal system work?
Our grind and seal system is a diamond-ground slab, three clear layers and a Hi-Wear 90 topcoat. Each layer of epoxy and topcoat sets up before the next one goes on, which gives a strong, even bond and a consistent finish. It’s exactly how we built the floor for HAIDES Barbershop in Port Moody.
- Assessment. We check the slab for moisture, cracks, old coatings and contamination, then confirm the look you want.
- Masking and protection. Walls, fixtures and anything that needs to stay clean get covered before grinding starts.
- Diamond grinding and deep cleaning. We grind the concrete open and pull out surface stains, grease and residue so the sealer can bond.
- 3-layer clear seal. Three clear epoxy layers, each allowed to set up fully before the next.
- Hi-Wear 90 topcoat. A high-wear topcoat for added strength against foot traffic, spills and daily use.
Where does grind and seal work best?
Grind and seal suits spaces where the look of real concrete is the point: barbershops and salons, cafes, retail, studios, offices, workshops and modern garages and basements. It’s also a smart choice when you want a protected, easy-clean floor on a tighter budget. See our commercial floor coatings and industrial floor coatings for heavier-duty options.
Grind and seal vs. epoxy flake vs. polished concrete
| Grind & seal | Epoxy flake | Polished concrete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Your concrete under clear coats | Colour and vinyl flake, slab hidden | Bare concrete refined to a sheen |
| Starting price | From $5/sq ft | From $7/sq ft | From $18/sq ft |
| Hides stains and patches | No | Yes | No |
| Coating on top | Yes, 3 layers + topcoat | Yes, base + flake + topcoat | No coating |
| 20-year Wish Warranty | Not covered | Covered on concrete | Not covered |
Not sure which is right? Read about epoxy flake floors and concrete polishing, or let us recommend one at your free estimate.
How much does a grind and seal floor cost?
Grind and seal starts at $5 per square foot. At that rate, a 400 sq ft two-car garage starts around $2,000 and a 1,000 sq ft shop starts around $5,000. Slabs with heavy staining, grease, old coatings or damage need more prep and cost more. We measure and assess your floor at a free estimate and give you one written number. That number is your cap.
Compare every system in our floor coating cost guide.
Grind and seal and polished concrete floors are not covered by the 20-year Wish Warranty, which applies to our epoxy, flake, quartz and metallic coating systems. Every job still comes with the Three Wishes, including a written quote that is your cap. Read the Wish Warranty.
Real job: HAIDES Barbershop, Port Moody
A former cafe slab soaked in grease became a 1,300 sq ft industrial grind and seal floor in three days, after more than 20 hours of concrete prep. Read the HAIDES Barbershop case study.
Frequently asked questions
What is a grind and seal floor?
Grind and seal is bare concrete that is diamond ground to an even, clean surface, then sealed with clear coats instead of colour or flake. You keep the natural, industrial look of the slab with a sealed surface that resists stains and wipes clean.
How much does grind and seal cost?
Wish Coatings’ grind and seal starts at $5 per square foot, so a 400 sq ft two-car garage starts around $2,000. Heavily stained, greasy or damaged slabs need more prep and cost more. Your written quote is your cap.
What’s the difference between grind and seal and an epoxy flake floor?
Grind and seal shows your concrete under clear coats for a raw, industrial look. An epoxy flake floor covers the slab with colour and vinyl flake, which hides imperfections and adds texture. Flake starts at $7 per square foot.
What’s the difference between grind and seal and polished concrete?
Grind and seal builds clear protective coats on top of the ground slab. Polished concrete has no coating at all: the slab itself is refined with finer and finer diamonds and densified until it shines. Polishing starts at $18 per square foot.
Will stains in my concrete still show?
Grinding removes surface stains and contamination, but a clear sealer shows the slab as it is. Some deep marks, patches and colour variation will stay visible. If you want a uniform look, an epoxy flake or metallic floor is the better fit.
How long does a grind and seal floor take?
Most jobs take two to three days, because each coat has to set before the next one goes on. Our 1,300 sq ft HAIDES Barbershop floor in Port Moody took three days, including more than 20 hours of prep.
Is grind and seal covered by the Wish Warranty?
No. The 20-year Wish Warranty covers our epoxy, flake, quartz and metallic coating systems. Grind and seal is not covered, but you still get the Three Wishes on every job.
The Wish Promise
Three wishes, granted on every job.
Every grind and seal floor we install comes with the same three promises as every other Wish floor.
- 1
On time, every time.
We show up when we say, usually ten minutes early, and we text before we roll up. You never chase us for an update.
- 2
Capped prices. No surprises.
The price we quote is the most you’ll pay. No backend charges, no “while we were in there” surprises after the fact.
- 3
Work we’re proud to stand behind.
If we wouldn’t put it in our own garage, we won’t put it in yours.
Your Wish. Our Word. On time. Capped. Proud.
Get a grind and seal quote for your floor
We’ll assess your slab, tell you honestly how it will look under a clear seal, and hand you a written quote that’s your cap.