Polished Concrete Patio (Design Guide)

A polished concrete patio brings your outdoor living into a whole new level that is so easy to maintain and resists visible wear more than other conventional patio materials. Moreover, a polished concrete patio can actually be a low-slip surface when applied with a resistant coating even when wet, making it a safe flooring surface for your outdoor areas.

What Is a Polished Concrete Finish? 

A polished concrete finish is when an existing or newly cured concrete slab has been mechanically ground, honed, and polished systematically to achieve the desired appearance.

The unique process can produce matte, satin, and gloss finish using fine grits of diamond abrasives. Generally, the slab is grounded using 50 grit to 400 grit metal bonded diamond depending on the desired sheen.

A chemical hardener is also applied to densify the concrete surface to improve durability and wearability while creating a non-skid surface. Then, polished with a 100 to 200 grit resin – bond diamond. The surface is continuously polished and buffed to achieve the surface quality required. 

The process of polishing makes the surface more durable, almost 10 times harder from its unpolished form. This makes it a cost-effective flooring surface favored for both commercial and industrial uses. Aside from the option of having a non-slip grit coat, the concrete finish comes with attractive design options to suit your outdoor needs.

There are a variety of concrete patio finishes you can add depending on the design you want. You can add flair to your outdoor patio with scored designs, borders, bands, and radial lines. You may add different colors to these attractive patterns as well.

Advantages

• Better Slip Resistance
• Easy Maintenance
• Resistant to Staining
• Organic Look 
• Clean Appearance 
• Good Aesthetics
• Reduced Costs
• Sustainable

Cost

The timeless and modern-looking polished concrete patio does have a wide cost range depending on the features you want to add to your outdoor patio. Although it can be labor-intensive, concrete polishing overall is a cost-effective patio material as you do not have to reseal your surface periodically. Plus, it is very low maintenance flooring. 

The price range for the polished concrete floor can cost from $3 to $12 that is for a 3,000-grit finish and applied with impregnating sealer. Meanwhile, tile can cost around $11 to $22, natural stone on the other hand can cost around $20 to $50 plus. 

Polished Finish Cost Per Square Foot

Economical $3 to $12– Typically has a moderate shine, one layer, and color stain with minimal surface preparation. 

Mid-range $5 to $8– Has a glossier finish, two-color stains, basic scoring pattern with extensive surface preparation. 

High-End $8 to $12– With staining details, multiple colors, and elaborate designs with multiple colors prepared extensively with grinding and surface preparation. Creating a polished exposed aggregate patio design can also add to the cost.

Differences Between Stained and Polished Finish Concrete

Choosing between stained or polished concrete? The two are very much similar in terms of their durability, appearance, and maintenance.

The primary differences between the two types of flooring is their appearance and cost. Stained applications have a stain coating to get their highly reflective appearance while polished techniques are smoothed. In addition, the cost can be more expensive compared to stained. 

Comparison Chart:	Stained Concrete	Polished Concrete
Colors	Custom Colors	Custom Colors
Installation Cost	Less Expensive	More Expensive & Labor Intensive
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
Maintenance	Needs to Be Resealed 1 to 2 Times Per Year	Protective Sealer Should Be Applied Every 2 to 10 Years
Cleaning	Broom/Mop or Mild Cleaning Products	Broom/Mop or Mild Cleaning Products
Best For Outdoors	Must Use Outdoor Stains	Floors with a High Polish May be Slippery
Durability	Durable But It Can Be Scratched, Worn & Faded, Especially in High Traffic Areas.	More Durable Than Stained Applications

What Is Stained Concrete? 

Concrete staining is a common technique for infusing a surface with colors that will remain luminous and vibrant for many years to come. The selection of designs is numerous, almost infinite, as you or the person doing the job can be creative with the design. You can choose just to stain it naturally or use a stencil to form the desired pattern.

There are many techniques for achieving unique results, so you don’t have to worry about implementing a design you want for your floors. Stained concrete can even simulate polished marble, natural stone, or even stained wood. The vitality of colors can be modified by adjusting the stain solution.

Concrete stain designs last for a very long time even in areas where there is heavy foot traffic. With durability as a factor, the design does require minimal maintenance, if any, saving the business owner money down the road.

These stained surfaces, unfortunately, do not share the same vitality, it is prone to scratching, especially in traffic areas. The colors and coatings are also prone to fading.

Between stained and polished applications, the latter is still the superior type of flooring because of an extensive installation process. The former also requires some more maintenance in comparison with the latter.

For those looking for another alternative, a stamped concrete patio may be appealing. This style often combines a polished, stained look with the design imprint of your choice.

Are Polished Patio Floors Slippery When Wet?

The fast and easy answer is, generally no, polished concrete is not more slippery than other types of surfaces. In fact when compared with epoxy surfaces this floor is generally much less slippery.

For a more in-depth look, using a pendulum tester is recommend instead of relying on the ANSI A137.1/A326.3 testing method. With this method it is concluded that these surfaces can be slippery when wet, but is generally safe when kept dry.

The ANSI test does provide a comparison between surfaces but the probability that a person will slip or not on the polished surface material cannot be predicted.

Factors that can play out on how slippery a polished concrete patio when wet is the foot traffic received, wear, contaminants, maintenance, and manufacturers recommendations. Therefore, the best method to avoid any incidents is to apply an anti-slip conditioner or coating. 

How long Do Polished Installations Last?

Polished concrete is usually guaranteed to last at least 20 years but can easily last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.

Stained surfaces, may require some yearly maintenance, particularly with sealing and rewaxing. But the stained surface can last for a hundred years. Neglecting or poor sealing may cause the stains to fade, especially with high foot traffic.

Is a Polished Floor Right for You?

A polished concrete floor is a sensible choice especially if you want affordable and low-maintenance patio flooring. Though bear in mind that it is a hard and cold surface to walk on. But other than these, switching to polished floors from the traditional wooden deck or tiles can brighten up your outdoor living creating a modern and elegant look. 

Compared to other types of patio floors, these surfaces are easier to install compared to tiles or stone paving, the sleek surface also means you don’t have to worry about yellowing or weathering grout lines. We have a more in-depth comparison of pavers vs concrete patios here.

What’s more is that there is minimal maintenance needed, and the surface can always look pristine just after some thorough cleaning. If you’re planning it as a DIY project, it is recommended that installing a sheen to your patio should be done by professionals to get the look right.

The work involved in surface preparation, expensive equipment, and the lack of knowledge on the design options are reasons why a DIY polished concrete project is not a practical endeavor. Another similar alternative is an epoxy patio design which offers many similar characteristics.