Polished concrete floors have become a popular choice for homes and businesses across Australia. But the question remains: is polished concrete expensive?
At superfloor australia, we’ve helped hundreds of customers understand that the real cost isn’t just about the upfront price. It’s about what you get over the years ahead.
What Does Polished Concrete Actually Cost
Polished concrete in Australia typically ranges from $50 to $100 per square metre for residential projects, with commercial spaces sitting between $60 and $120 per square metre. The variation comes down to three primary drivers: project size, the polish level you choose, and the condition of your existing concrete. A small kitchen around 15 square metres might cost $900 to $1,800, while a 100-square-metre office often costs less per square metre due to economies of scale. Labour represents 60 to 70 per cent of your total bill, which is why location matters significantly. Urban areas command higher rates than regional centres. Material costs for diamond abrasives and sealants fluctuate with market conditions, and the equipment your contractor uses influences the final price. Advanced machinery delivers better finishes and faster completion, but it costs more upfront.
The Polish Method Changes Everything
Grind and seal costs around $50 to $70 per square metre and gives you a basic, functional finish. Honed concrete runs $75 per square metre and lasts longer than grind and seal. Mechanically polished floors cost $100 or more per square metre because they require multiple diamond grit passes and deliver that showroom-quality high-gloss look. The gloss level itself drives cost upward. High-gloss finishes demand more passes and finer grits than matte or satin options. Your concrete condition determines whether you pay extra for preparation. New or well-maintained slabs require minimal work. Older floors with cracks or contamination need repairs at $10 to $30 per square metre and grinding before polishing can begin.
Preparation and Hidden Expenses
Moisture testing costs $4 to $7 per square metre, and if moisture is detected, moisture mitigation systems add to your bill. A high-quality sealer costs about $5 to $15 per square metre upfront and protects your investment for years. These preparation costs matter more than most people realise, especially on older properties where the concrete has absorbed years of wear.
Customization Adds Value
Adding colour, patterns, or exposed aggregates increases costs. Staining or dyeing runs $10 to $25 per square metre. Decorative saw cuts or patterns cost $15 to $30 per square metre. Exposed aggregate, which reveals the stones within the concrete, ranges from $20 to $40 per square metre. These options transform a functional floor into a design statement that reflects your space.
How Polished Concrete Stacks Up
Compare this to timber flooring at $85 to $110 per square metre or natural stone at $215 to $500 per square metre, and polished concrete looks competitive. Ceramic tiles cost $118 to $235 per square metre before you factor in underlayment and waterproofing, which add 30 to 40 per cent more. Hardwood at $60 to $120 per square metre requires refinishing every 7 to 10 years at $25 to $40 per square metre. Polished concrete resealing costs just $3 to $8 per square metre every 2 to 5 years. The upfront price often looks higher than it should, but what happens over the next decade tells a different story.
How Long Will Your Polished Concrete Floor Really Last
Durability That Spans Decades
Polished concrete floors in residential settings last 20 to 30 years with proper maintenance, and commercial spaces often deliver even longer service lives. This durability fundamentally changes the cost equation. While you might pay $70 per square metre upfront for a mechanically polished floor in a residential space, you invest in a surface that won’t need replacement for decades. Hardwood requires refinishing every 7 to 10 years at $25 to $40 per square metre, which compounds your costs significantly over time. Tiles crack and chip in high-traffic areas, forcing repairs or replacement within 15 to 20 years. Polished concrete simply doesn’t fail in the same way. The surface flexes with concrete movement rather than cracking like brittle alternatives.
Maintenance Costs That Stay Low
Resealing every 2 to 5 years costs only $3 to $8 per square metre, and re-polishing every 5 to 10 years runs $10 to $20 per square metre. Over 25 years, you spend roughly $75 to $150 on maintenance per square metre, compared to $350 to $400 for timber refinishing alone. This is where polished concrete stops being expensive and becomes genuinely economical. Polished concrete resists spills, dirt, and stains far better than grout-heavy tile floors, which require deep cleaning every 12 to 18 months at $15 to $25 per square metre annually. You simply mop a polished floor regularly and reseal periodically.
Energy Savings Add Real Value
Polished concrete can reduce air-conditioning demand by up to 45 per cent compared with dark stone surfaces because the reflective, high-gloss finish bounces light and reduces heat absorption. The concrete’s thermal mass also helps regulate indoor temperatures naturally, lowering heating and cooling costs year-round. In Australian climates, especially Brisbane and surrounding regions, this translates to measurable savings on energy bills. A 100-square-metre office that costs $7,000 to polish initially might recover half that cost through energy savings over 10 years, depending on climate control usage.
Why Low Maintenance Matters Most
For families with children and pets, or commercial spaces with high foot traffic, the low-maintenance reality eliminates the hidden costs of constant cleaning, repairs, and replacements that plague other flooring types. You avoid the expense of professional grout cleaning, tile replacement, and wood refinishing that accumulate over time. The polished surface’s dust, stain, and allergen-resistant properties mean fewer health concerns and lower cleaning demands. This combination of durability, minimal upkeep, and energy efficiency creates a compelling financial picture that extends well beyond the initial quote.
Hidden Costs to Consider
Substrate Preparation Separates Real Quotes from Underpriced Estimates
Substrate preparation determines whether your project stays on budget or spirals into unexpected expenses. When assessing a floor, contractors must evaluate concrete age, existing damage, and what lies beneath the surface. New slabs or well-maintained concrete require minimal prep work, but older floors demand honest assessment and additional investment. Crack repairs cost $10 to $30 per square metre, and contamination removal adds expense depending on what’s embedded in the concrete. Moisture testing should never be skipped on ground-level floors or properties with drainage issues. If moisture levels are high, mitigation systems add $10 to $25 per square metre to your bill. Projects that skip moisture testing save money upfront but often create problems within two years, forcing costly repairs that exceed the initial savings.
Sealing and Protection Treatments Protect Long-Term Performance
The sealer you choose affects total cost and floor longevity significantly. A high-quality sealer at $5 to $15 per square metre protects your investment far better than budget options, and resealing keeps the floor performing optimally. Skipping this maintenance causes your floor to deteriorate faster, requiring expensive restoration work later. Access to the work area also influences final costs. Tight spaces with numerous corners require additional equipment or hand work, increasing labour costs beyond standard square-metre pricing. These preparation and protection expenses often surprise property owners, but they represent essential investments that prevent far costlier problems down the track.
Climate Control and Thermal Considerations Affect Usability
Polished concrete’s high thermal mass naturally regulates temperature, which sounds beneficial until you understand the practical implications. Unheated concrete floors feel cold underfoot in winter, and while the thermal mass helps moderate temperature swings, it doesn’t eliminate discomfort. Installing polished concrete in residential bathrooms or bedrooms typically requires heated flooring systems. Floor heating retrofitted onto existing slabs can be integrated during the polishing process, and integrating it into new installations before grinding keeps costs down. The reflective, high-gloss finish also bounces sound in large open spaces, making warehouses or open-plan offices noisier than expected. These aren’t deal-breakers, but they’re real considerations that affect usability and sometimes require additional investment in acoustic solutions or heating systems to address properly.
Final Thoughts
The answer to whether polished concrete is expensive depends entirely on your timeframe. You’ll pay $50 to $100 per square metre upfront, which feels substantial until you spread that cost across 20 to 30 years of service life. A mechanically polished residential floor at $70 per square metre costs roughly $2.33 annually per square metre when divided across three decades, while timber flooring at $85 to $110 per square metre requires refinishing every 7 to 10 years at $25 to $40 per square metre, compounding your expenses significantly.
Maintenance costs of $3 to $8 per square metre every 2 to 5 years for resealing and $10 to $20 per square metre every 5 to 10 years for re-polishing total roughly $75 to $150 per square metre over 25 years, compared to $350 to $400 for timber alone. Energy savings from the reflective finish and thermal mass reduce air-conditioning demand by up to 45 per cent compared with dark stone surfaces, recovering half your initial investment over a decade in many Australian climates. For families with children and pets, or commercial spaces with heavy foot traffic, the low-maintenance reality eliminates constant cleaning, repairs, and replacements that plague other flooring types.
Contact superfloor australia to discuss your project and receive a detailed assessment that accounts for your specific concrete condition, customisation preferences, and long-term goals. Getting accurate quotes from experienced contractors matters more than chasing the lowest price. We help customers in Brisbane understand this cost equation and deliver high-gloss finishes that stay beautiful with minimal effort.