Polished concrete is a practical flooring option for commercial spaces, such as cafes, showrooms, and retail stores. It doesn't feature dirt-catching grout, as ceramic tiles do. Plus, concrete doesn't dent and scratch like hardwood, and it withstands water spills better than laminate. Polished concrete also provides plenty of design options that will harmonise with your business. You may wonder how much this flooring will cost. Here are some factors that have an impact. 

Shine Level

Polished concrete is created in stages. Relatively coarse grits are used to smooth the floor in the early stages. Then, successively finer polishing pads are used, and the concrete grows shinier with each pass. The benefit of this process is that it can be stopped earlier if you want a matte finish, which will also keep costs down. Alternatively, the contractors can continue to achieve a mirror-like appearance. You might prefer a shinier floor if you want to give an exclusive store an upscale look. Or, for an industrially styled cafe, you could stop the process sooner.

Area

Another factor that will impact the cost of your polished concrete is the square meterage of the area. If you need a larger space polished, it can cost more. However, this may also mean that bigger equipment can be used, making the installation quicker. However, this equipment will need to be paid for. If contractors have to work around narrow doorways, they may need to use smaller handheld tools, which can take longer. You'll need a quote to get an accurate estimate.

Floor Design

The elaborateness of your design will also affect the price of polished concrete. Simpler flooring will cost less. For example, choosing one colour will be cheaper than applying multi-tones. And a detailed design with contrasting borders will be more expensive than polished concrete with a uniform design in all areas. You could opt to stick with a natural grey and give the surface a semi-shine for a budget flooring option.

Current Floor

You also should think about the current floor and how that will impact the project costs. If the floor was previously covered in linoleum or planks and these were ripped off, they may have left glue behind, which will need to be removed. The structural condition of the existing concrete is also crucial. Does it have cracks that will require mending or marks that need removing? Depending on its condition, contractors may have to pour a new concrete overlay on top, thus adding to the price.

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