FAQ’s - Frequently asked questions :

Q. What is Polished Concrete?
A. The grinding of old or new concrete to expose the aggregate/stone within to achieve a smooth or polished surface.

Q. How is this achieved?
A. The process requires grinding or cutting back the surface of the concrete to expose the aggregate or stone just below. Once this is achieved the floor is then polished with specialised machinery to achieve a brilliant smooth and polished finish. In some cases the floor requires further grouting, re-polished and sealing. Where grouting is not necessary the floor is then sealed after the initial polish.

Q. Is there a choice of concrete and aggregate/stone colours?
A. If new concrete is to be placed then there is a large range of concrete colours and decorative stones to choose from to create your own unique design and look.

Q. Can I choose a different finish?
A. There are many different options to achieve the finish you are after. The concrete can be polished to varying degrees of texture and the amount of stone visible. There are also different gloss levels and finishes available in concrete sealers. Whether you want a matt non-slip surface for around your pool or highly polished gloss surface in your living room it is just a matter of specifying what you desire.

Q. Is Polished Concrete expensive?
A. The cost of polished concrete can vary depending on your choice of concrete colour and stone, the finish and the type of area to be polished. All projects are different however, generally polished concrete is very comparable to a cheaply tiled concrete area.

Q. How messy is it?
A. The most common polishing practice that McGinn Concrete use requires grinding machines that use water. This process creates a slurry which is vacuumed up and placed in a slurry bin and removed from the site. In other cases industrial sized vacuum machines are used with machines that do not require water. In this case the vacuum machine extracts the dust that is created while it is grinding leaving only a small amount of dust.