Polished concrete is not a coating. The top of the slab is ground with diamond tooling, hardened with a densifier and polished with finer and finer diamonds until it shines. La Cumbre polishes concrete as well as coating it in epoxy, and tests a slab for moisture before any floor work. For a free estimate, call or text (805) 698-9745.
Polished or coated?
| Compare | Polished concrete | Epoxy coating |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The slab’s own surface, ground and polished | A coating bonded on top of the slab |
| Look | Gray concrete, from matte to high gloss, with as much stone showing as you choose | A solid color, or color flakes under a clear coat |
| Where it fits | Living areas, studios, shops and commercial floors | Garages and utility rooms, where oil and tires meet the floor |
| Damp slab | No film on top to lift | Moisture can lift a coating, so the slab is tested first |
How a slab gets polished
- Test and prepare. The slab is tested for moisture, cracks are filled, and old glue, paint and coatings come off.
- Grind. Metal-bond diamonds flatten the surface and open it up. How deep they cut decides how much stone shows.
- Densify. A liquid hardener soaks into the concrete and hardens the surface, so it takes a polish and resists wear.
- Polish. Resin-bond diamonds go on in steps, each one finer, until the floor reaches the sheen you chose.
- Protect. An optional guard coat helps the surface shrug off stains.
How shiny, and how much stone?
The trade describes a polished floor two ways: how much it reflects, and how much of the stone in the concrete shows. Concrete Network sets them out like this:
| Level | Look | Where the polishing stops |
|---|---|---|
| 1, flat | Little or no reflection | Below 100 grit |
| 2, satin | Low sheen | About 400 grit |
| 3, semi-polished | Clear reflection | 800 grit or higher |
| 4, highly polished | Mirror-like | Up to about 3,000 grit |
For the stone, a light cut leaves the cream at the surface with little aggregate showing. A cut of about 1/16 inch gives a fine salt-and-pepper look, about 1/8 inch shows medium stone, and about 1/4 inch shows large stone. A light cut will not remove old blemishes in the slab, so the condition of the concrete shapes what is possible.
Caring for a polished floor
- Dust mop often. Grit is what dulls the shine.
- Clean with a pH-neutral cleaner, not vinegar or citrus.
- Wipe up wine, juice and oil quickly. Acids can etch the surface.
- A dull path can be brought back by polishing again, without starting over.
Questions
Can any concrete floor be polished?
Most sound slabs can. Cracks, patches and old glue lines show through a polish, so Tony looks at the slab first and tells you what it will look like.
Polished concrete or epoxy for a garage?
Epoxy hides oil stains and tire marks under color. Polished concrete keeps the look of the slab. Many garages go with epoxy; many living spaces and studios go with polish. See epoxy garage floors.
Do you test the slab first?
Yes. Tony tests for moisture before any floor work, using ASTM moisture tests on concrete.
Sources
- Tony, owner of La Cumbre Floor Covering & Design: services and moisture testing, October 2026
- Concrete Network, levels of polished concrete
- American Society of Concrete Contractors, Concrete Polishing Council classes and levels, Jul 2024
- Wagner Meters, how to test moisture in concrete floors