Perth polished concrete price bands
| Band | $/m² (supplied and installed) | What puts a job in this band |
|---|---|---|
| Low | $150–$175 / m² | Existing slab polish — cream-finish only (no aggregate revealed), single densifier coat, satin sheen. Common for garage floor and warehouse conversions. |
| Mid | $175–$200 / m² | New pour with selected aggregate, full grind sequence to salt-and-pepper or medium aggregate exposure, densifier plus surface guard, satin or medium-gloss finish. Most common band for feature floors in Perth new-builds. |
| High | $200–$220 / m² | Premium mix with designer aggregate (imported granite, glass, decorative shell), full mirror polish (1500–3000 grit), colour tint, curved or complex layout. Common in architectural Perth homes and high-end commercial. |
What drives the cost in Perth
Grit sequence
A genuine polished floor takes 5–7 grinding stages from 40 grit up to 800, 1500 or 3000. Each stage is separate labour and a separate diamond-pad wear cost. Skipping stages produces the smeary 'grinding-marks-visible' look that gives cheap polished concrete a bad name. Expect $10–$18 per m² per additional stage.
Aggregate exposure level
Cream finish (no aggregate revealed) is cheapest — the polish sits on the cement paste layer alone. Salt-and-pepper exposes fine aggregate. Medium and full aggregate expose progressively larger stones. Deeper exposure needs more aggressive first grinds and more skilled crack/void filling. Full aggregate exposure adds $20–$30 per m².
Slab quality
Polished concrete lives or dies by the pour. High and low spots become visible ridges after polishing. Segregation (heavy aggregate settling to the bottom) leaves a resin-rich top that polishes poorly. A polished floor slab should be poured 32 MPa, hand-screeded meticulously, and power-trowelled by someone who knows the floor will be polished. Not a cost-effective retrofit on a bad slab.
Void filling
Every pinhole and hairline crack that opens during grinding must be filled with matching slurry between stages. On a well-poured slab this is 20–30 minutes per 20m². On a poor slab it can double the honing labour.
Surface guard
A guard product over the densifier improves stain resistance and adds a light sheen enhancement. Not strictly needed for a garage or warehouse but essential in kitchens and bathrooms where oil and acidic spills are frequent.
Process
- 1
Pour or prep
For new pours: 32 MPa mix with selected aggregate, careful screed, power-trowel finish, 14+ day cure. For existing slabs: assess flatness and aggregate exposure potential, fill obvious defects, then move to first grind.
- 2
First cut (40–80 grit)
Aggressive metal-bond diamond grind to level the surface and expose aggregate to the specified level. Produces significant dust — always vacuum-shrouded or wet grind. This pass sets the aggregate reveal for the whole job.
- 3
Grouting and densifier
Fill every pinhole and hairline exposed by the first grind with matching slurry. Apply first coat of lithium densifier while surface is porous — it soaks in and hardens the concrete matrix.
- 4
Progressive grits
Resin-bond diamond pads at 100, 200, 400, 800 grit — each stage removing the scratch pattern of the previous. For a satin finish, stop at 400 or 800. For mirror, continue to 1500 or 3000.
- 5
Second densifier and burnish
Second coat of densifier locks in the polished surface. Optional burnishing with a high-speed pad brings the sheen to full potential without further grinding.
- 6
Surface guard
Apply stain-resistant surface guard — a light penetrating layer that beads liquids and repels oils. Ready for foot traffic in 4 hours, full service in 24.
Perth-specific considerations
- Polished concrete is not recommended for exposed outdoor driveways in Perth. UV degrades the polished surface over time and the sheen goes patchy within 3–5 years. For outdoor floors, stop at honed.
- Perth's summer heat makes indoor polished concrete feel cool underfoot — a genuine comfort advantage for open-plan homes without air-con running constantly.
- Coastal humidity in Cottesloe and Fremantle can raise moisture through unsealed slab edges and cause polish blushing near external walls. Address this with a proper vapour barrier under new slabs.
- The reactive Guildford clay in the eastern corridor is a difficult substrate for polished floors — ground movement telegraphs cracks straight through the polish. Consider adding a floating engineered timber layer instead in Ellenbrook, Aveley.
- Perth's older 1960s–1980s slabs often have poor aggregate for polishing. Test-grind a small area before quoting the full floor.
Compare with the alternatives
Honed vs polished
Honed stops at 200–400 grit for a matte finish; polished continues to 800+ for satin or mirror. Honed is durable outdoors and forgiving of imperfections. Polished demands a better pour and is best kept indoors or under cover.
Read more →Exposed aggregate for outdoor use
For exposed outdoor pours in Perth, exposed aggregate delivers a comparable premium look with far better UV durability and no risk of a slippery polished surface after rain.
Read more →Ready for a polished concrete estimate?
Tell us about your job — we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does polished concrete cost in Perth?
Between $150 and $220 per square metre supplied and installed. A 60m² polished floor in a new pour with salt-and-pepper aggregate exposure runs $10,500–$12,000. Retrofit polishing on an existing slab in cream finish starts around $9,000 for the same area.
How long does polished concrete last?
The floor lasts as long as the building — 50+ years is realistic. The polish itself is essentially permanent indoors; a single burnish and guard reapply every 5–10 years keeps it looking new. Outdoor and semi-exposed polished floors need more maintenance and eventually lose their sheen.
Is polished concrete slippery?
Wet polished concrete is genuinely slippery — comparable to polished tile. Indoor floors are fine because they stay dry. Bathrooms and kitchens need a fine anti-slip additive in the surface guard. Outdoor polished concrete after rain is a slip hazard and not recommended.
Can I polish my existing garage floor?
Usually yes, if the slab is flat, free of thick oil stains, and at least 75mm thick. The catch is you get whatever aggregate the original builder poured. Test-grind a small area to see what's in there — it might polish beautifully or reveal poor mixed rubble.
Does polished concrete stain?
Sealed polished concrete with a densifier and surface guard resists most household liquids. Red wine, coffee and oil wipe off with prompt cleaning. Acidic substances (citrus juice, vinegar, some cleaning products) can etch the surface if left. Prompt cleanup + periodic guard reapplication keeps a polished floor looking new.
Get a free estimate
Tell us about your job — we'll be in touch within 24 hours.