How Much Does Polished Concrete Cost in London? Complete 2026 Price Guide

You’ve received three quotes for your polished concrete floor, and they’re all wildly different. One’s £110 per square metre. Another’s £180. The third is £250. So what should you actually be paying—and more importantly, what are you paying for?

At London Polished Concrete, we price many projects every year across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. This guide breaks down real-world costs, explains what affects pricing, and helps you understand the difference between a cheap quote and good value.

What Does Polished Concrete Actually Cost in London?

For a typical 100-150mm concrete slab installation with polishing, you’re looking at:

Basic System: £120–£150 per m²

Standard grey or off-white cement
Light mechanical polish if required (salt & pepper finish)
Basic densifier and sealer
Suitable for: utility areas, workshops, garages, industrial spaces

Mid-Range Architectural Finish: £150–£200 per m²

Colour-hardened concrete or light aggregate exposure
Professional-grade densifier and sealer
Satin or semi-gloss finish
Suitable for: residential extensions, open-plan living spaces, offices, retail units

Premium Specification: £200–£280+ per m²

Full aggregate exposure (terrazzo-style finish)
Decorative saw cuts, staining, or custom colour blends
High-gloss polish with premium sealer systems
Suitable for: luxury residential projects, high-end commercial spaces, showrooms, restaurants

These figures include concrete supply and placement, grinding and polishing, densifiers, sealers, and standard site access. What they don’t include is ground preparation, structural work, or remedial measures if your site has issues—which brings us to the next question.

What Actually Affects the Cost of Your Polished Concrete Floor?

1. Concrete Specification and Thickness

Most residential and light commercial floors use 100-150mm slabs with steel mesh reinforcement. If you’re installing in a warehouse, vehicle access area, or commercial kitchen, you’ll need a thicker slab or additional reinforcement.

The concrete mix itself also varies. A basic C25 mix costs less than a C30 or C35 mix with fibres, plasticisers, or colour additives. We specify the mix based on your usage, not based on saving money.

2. Finish Level and Aggregate Exposure

The deeper we grind to expose aggregate, the more labour, time, and machinery wear is involved. A salt-and-pepper finish (light surface grind) is quicker and cheaper. A full terrazzo-style exposure with large stones requires multiple grinding passes with progressively finer diamonds.

Both finishes are durable. The difference is aesthetic.

3. Floor Area and Site Logistics

Larger floors benefit from economies of scale. A 200m² warehouse floor will cost less per square metre than a 30m² kitchen extension because setup, mobilisation, and equipment costs are spread over a bigger area.

Site access also matters. If we’re working in central London with restricted parking, limited working hours, or multiple floors with no lift access, logistics costs increase. A ground-floor extension in Croydon is cheaper to service than a third-floor loft conversion in Notting Hill.

5. Underfloor Heating, Additives, and Extras

Polished concrete works beautifully with underfloor heating, but the pipework needs to be installed before we pour.

Other extras that affect cost:

Movement joints (essential for large areas)
Decorative saw cuts or patterns
Colour staining or dye application
Non-slip additives for wet areas
Expedited curing schedules for tight programmes

How Polished Concrete Compares to Other Flooring Options

Clients often ask whether polished concrete is worth the investment compared to tiles, resin, or traditional screed. Here’s the reality:

Polished Concrete: £120–£280 per m²

Lifespan: 20+ years with minimal maintenance
Maintenance: Sweep and mop. Re-seal every 3-5 years (optional)
Durability: Exceptional. Resistant to impact, abrasion, stains, moisture
Aesthetics: Seamless, modern, timeless. Works with underfloor heating
Resale value: Adds value to property, particularly in contemporary renovations

Porcelain or Ceramic Tiles: £80–£150 per m² (materials + labour)

Lifespan: 10-15 years before grout degrades or tiles crack
Maintenance: Grout cleaning required. Prone to staining and mould in wet areas
Durability: Good, but individual tiles can crack. Uneven surfaces develop lippage
Aesthetics: Grout lines date. Hard to achieve seamless look
Hidden costs: Tile removal and replacement when worn or damaged

Resin Flooring: £90–£160 per m²

Lifespan: 10-15 years before scratching, discolouration, or wear becomes noticeable
Maintenance: Can scratch. Some epoxy resins yellow in sunlight
Durability: Good for light to medium traffic. Less suitable for heavy use
Aesthetics: Plastic appearance. Can look dated quickly
Limitations: Not breathable. Can trap moisture. Sensitive to UV

Traditional Screed (with separate floor finish): £30–£50 per m² (screed only)

Screed is not a finished floor. You’ll need to add tiles, wood, carpet, or another covering on top, which brings the total cost to £60–£120+ per m².
Polished concrete eliminates this step—it’s the structural slab and finished floor in one.

Bottom line: Polished concrete costs more upfront than some alternatives, but if you’re staying in your property for more than five years, it’s almost always the most cost-effective solution. No grout to scrub. No tiles to replace. No refinishing. Just a floor that looks better at 20 years than most alternatives do at two.

What About Microcement? How Does It Compare?

We’re often asked about microcement as an alternative, particularly for refurbishment projects. Microcement typically costs £120–£180 per m² installed, which puts it in a similar price bracket to polished concrete.

But they’re fundamentally different products designed for different situations:

Microcement is a 2-3mm thin cementitious overlay applied by hand over existing surfaces—tiles, screed, plasterboard, wood, even metal. It’s ideal for:

Refurbishments where you can’t pour a new slab
Projects where floor height is limited
Bathrooms, wet rooms, and feature walls
Spaces requiring minimal disruption

Polished concrete is a 100-150mm structural slab that’s ground and polished to create an industrial-strength surface. It’s the better choice for:

New builds and extensions
High-traffic commercial or retail spaces
Areas requiring maximum durability and impact resistance
Ground floor installations where you’re pouring a new slab anyway

Both have their place. We install both systems and recommend whichever suits your project. If you’re pouring a new slab, polished concrete is almost always the right choice. If you’re renovating and the existing substrate is sound, microcement offers similar aesthetics with less disruption.

For a detailed breakdown of microcement costs and applications, read our complete microcement pricing guide.

Is Polished Concrete Worth the Cost?

If you’re planning to stay in your property for five years or more, polished concrete is almost certainly a cost-effective flooring solution available.

Here’s why:

No ongoing maintenance costs. Sweep, mop, done. No grout cleaning, no tile replacement, no sanding and refinishing. Re-sealing every 3-5 years is optional and costs around £15-£20 per m².
Exceptional durability. A properly installed polished concrete floor will outlast you. We’ve inspected 30-year-old polished floors that look better than most alternatives do at three years.
Timeless aesthetics. Polished concrete doesn’t date. It’s as relevant today as it was 20 years ago, and it’ll still be relevant in 20 years’ time. Compare that to tiles, which date the moment you choose them.
Improves with age. Unlike wood (which wears) or tiles (which crack and stain), polished concrete develops a patina that adds character. The surface becomes smoother and more refined over time.
Adds property value. In London’s competitive property market, a well-executed polished concrete floor is a selling point—particularly in contemporary conversions, loft spaces, and open-plan extensions.
Works with underfloor heating. The thermal mass of concrete makes it perfect for UFH. It heats slowly and releases warmth evenly, creating comfortable, efficient heating.

Polished concrete isn’t the cheapest option. But if you’re investing in your property for the long term, it’s one of the smartest.

Common Questions About Polished Concrete Costs

How long does installation take?

For a typical residential project (30-60m²):

Preparation and concrete pour: 1-3 days
Curing period: 28 days (no access required)
Grinding and polishing: 2-3 days
Sealing and finishing: 1 day

Total calendar time is around 5-6 weeks, but most of that is curing—we’re not on site. Actual working days are typically 5-7 days.

Can you install polished concrete over an existing floor?

Not usually. Polished concrete requires a structural concrete slab—you can’t polish over tiles, screed, or wood.

However, if you have an existing concrete slab (common in 1960s-80s properties or industrial conversions), we can grind and polish that. This is often cheaper than pouring new concrete.

If you want the aesthetic of polished concrete but can’t pour a new slab, microcement is your best option.

Does polished concrete work with underfloor heating?

Yes, perfectly. In fact, concrete is ideal for underfloor heating because of its thermal mass. The pipework is installed on top of the insulation layer before we pour the concrete, and the slab conducts heat evenly across the floor.

Most of our residential projects include underfloor heating.

Will the floor crack?

All concrete can crack—it’s a natural characteristic of the material. However, properly specified and installed concrete with adequate ground preparation, correct reinforcement, and movement joints rarely develops problematic cracking.

Hairline cracks (less than 0.3mm) are considered acceptable and don’t affect structural integrity or durability. If cracks do appear, they can be filled and re-polished.

The key is proper preparation. Most cracked floors we’ve seen were the result of poor groundwork or inadequate curing—not the concrete itself.

How do I maintain a polished concrete floor?

Daily: Sweep or vacuum to remove grit and debris Weekly: Mop with clean water and a pH-neutral cleaner Annually: Deep clean if required Every 3-5 years: Re-seal (optional, extends surface protection)

That’s it. No grout scrubbing, no waxing, no special treatments.

Avoid acidic cleaners (vinegar, citrus-based products) and abrasive tools, which can damage the sealer over time.

For detailed maintenance guidance, see our polished concrete care guide.

Get a Transparent, No-Obligation Quote

Every project is different. Ground conditions, access, specification, and finish all affect final costs. That’s why we don’t quote over the phone or from photos.

We visit your site, assess the substrate and conditions, explain your options, and provide a detailed written quotation with no hidden costs. Most surveys take 30-45 minutes.

What you’ll get:

Professional site assessment
Written specification tailored to your project
Fixed-price quotation
Transparent breakdown of what’s included
Realistic timeline
Answers to any questions you have

What happens next:

Call us or fill in our contact form
We’ll arrange a site visit at a time that suits you
You’ll receive a detailed written quotation within 48 hours
If you’re happy to proceed, we’ll schedule your installation

No pressure. No hard sell. Just honest advice from people who’ve been doing this for years.

Call: 020 7100 3887
WhatsApp: 07417 513779
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.londonpolishedconcrete.com

The Bottom Line

Polished concrete costs between £120 and £280 per square metre in London, depending on specification, ground conditions, and finish level.

Cheap quotes under £120 per m² are almost always a false economy. You’ll either get substandard work that needs rectifying, or you’ll discover hidden costs once work begins.

Mid-range quotes (£150-£200 per m²) represent fair value for a professionally installed floor with proper ground preparation, quality materials, and experienced labour.

Premium specifications (£200-£280+ per m²) are justified for high-end residential or commercial projects where aesthetics and finish quality are paramount.

If you’re planning to stay in your property for five years or more, polished concrete is one of the smartest investments you can make. It will outlast, outperform, and outlive almost any alternative—and still look contemporary decades from now.

Choose your installer based on experience, transparency, and quality—not on who offers the cheapest per-square-metre rate. The difference between a good floor and a problem floor usually comes down to £20-£30 per m². Spread over 20 years, that’s about £1-£1.50 per m² per year.

Worth it? Absolutely.

Ready to discuss your project? Contact us for a site assessment and transparent quotation.