Concrete polishing turns the slab you already have into the finished floor. Instead of adding a coating, we grind and refine the concrete itself with progressively finer diamonds, harden it with a densifier and polish it to the sheen you choose. Polished concrete from Wish Coatings starts at $18 per square foot across the Lower Mainland.
What is polished concrete?
Polished concrete is a bare slab that’s ground and refined with progressively finer diamond tooling, hardened with a densifier and polished to the sheen you choose. There’s no coating on top, so nothing can peel. Wish Coatings’ concrete polishing starts at $18 per square foot.
How do we polish concrete?
Concrete polishing is a multi-stage mechanical process. We start with coarse diamonds to open and flatten the slab, densify it, then step up through finer and finer tooling until the floor reaches the sheen you picked. Every pass refines the scratch pattern left by the one before.
- Assessment. We check the slab’s condition, hardness, cracks and any existing coatings, and talk through the sheen and look you want.
- Grinding. Coarse diamond tooling removes coatings and surface defects and flattens the floor.
- Densifying. A densifier soaks into the concrete and hardens the surface so it takes a polish and resists wear and dusting.
- Honing and polishing. Progressively finer diamonds refine the surface until it reaches your chosen sheen.
- Protect and burnish. A protective treatment helps resist stains, and a final burnish brings up the shine.
Where does polished concrete work best?
Polished concrete is a favourite for modern homes, basements, showrooms, retail, offices, restaurants and warehouses: anywhere you want a sleek, low-maintenance floor that shows off real concrete. Because there’s no film coating, it’s also popular in busy commercial spaces.
Polished concrete vs. grind and seal
Both show off your concrete. Polished concrete refines the slab itself, with no coating on top. Grind and seal stops after the grind and protects the slab with clear coats and a Hi-Wear 90 topcoat. Grind and seal is faster and starts at $5/sq ft; polishing takes many more passes and starts at $18/sq ft. If you want to hide stains and patches, an epoxy flake floor is the better fit.
How much does concrete polishing cost?
Concrete polishing starts at $18 per square foot, so a 400 sq ft space starts around $7,200. The final price depends on the slab’s condition, whether old coatings have to come off, crack repair and the level of sheen. We confirm everything at a free estimate and give you one written number that’s your cap.
| System | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Grind & seal | From $5/sq ft |
| Epoxy & vinyl flake | From $7/sq ft |
| Quartz | From $13/sq ft |
| Metallic epoxy | From $16/sq ft |
| Concrete polishing | From $18/sq ft |
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is polished concrete?
Polished concrete is a bare slab that’s ground and refined with progressively finer diamond tooling, hardened with a densifier and polished to a sheen. There’s no coating on top, so there is nothing to peel.
How much does concrete polishing cost?
Wish Coatings’ concrete polishing starts at $18 per square foot, so a 400 sq ft space starts around $7,200. Slab condition, existing coatings, cracks and the sheen you want all affect the final price. Your written quote is your cap.
Why does polishing cost more than grind and seal?
Polishing takes many more passes with finer and finer diamonds, plus densifying and burnishing, to bring the slab itself to a shine. Grind and seal stops after the grind and adds clear coats on top, so it is faster and starts at $5 per square foot.
Can any concrete floor be polished?
Most sound interior slabs can be polished, but results depend on the concrete. Existing coatings must be removed, and cracks, patches and colour variation will show in the finish. We assess your slab first and tell you honestly what to expect.
Is polished concrete slippery?
Dry polished concrete generally has good traction for everyday use. Like most smooth hard floors, it can be slick when wet, so spills should be wiped up and entry mats help in rainy weather.
Is concrete polishing covered by the Wish Warranty?
No. The 20-year Wish Warranty covers our epoxy, flake, quartz and metallic coating systems. Polished concrete is not covered, but the Three Wishes apply on every job.
The Wish Promise
Three wishes, granted on every job.
Every polished concrete floor we deliver 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.
Find out if your slab is a good fit for polishing
We’ll assess your concrete, show you what it can look like and give you a written quote that’s your cap. No pressure.