Polished concrete is one of the toughest interior finishes available. It performs in high-traffic homes, retail, offices and hospitality — resisting wear, impact and everyday abrasion when correctly specified and maintained.
A polished concrete floor is designed to be lived on. No tiles to crack, no grout to stain, and no regular re-coating routine. Simple cleaning (water or pH-neutral cleaner) keeps it looking sharp.
Polished concrete works brilliantly with underfloor heating. The slab stores heat and releases it evenly, making it ideal for open-plan layouts, extensions and modern ground floors.
Finish is everything. We help you choose the right concrete build-up and the right look — from colour-hardenedarchitectural tones, to salt & pepper exposure, to fully exposed aggregate for a bolder, terrazzo-like character.
Below are the three polished concrete floors we install. The right option depends on your aesthetic, programme, budget, and the depth available for your floor.
This is the classic colour hardened polished concrete floor — where a dry shake colour hardener is broadcast onto fresh concrete and power-trowelled in. It produces a dense, abrasion-resistant wearing surface and a consistent architectural tone.
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What it looks like:
This option is typically achieved by installing a concrete slab and then mechanically grinding and polishing to reveal a light, fine aggregate exposure — commonly called salt & pepper polished concrete.
Best for:
What it looks like:
This is the most visually expressive finish. The slab is ground further to reveal more of the stone structure, giving a fully exposed aggregate polished concrete look (often compared to terrazzo, but with a distinctly concrete character).
Best for:
What it looks like:
We manage the floor as a system — not just a finish. Depending on the option chosen, the process includes new slab installation (typically around 100mm where specified and designed), reinforcement coordination, pouring, power-trowel finishing, controlled curing, and then the appropriate grinding/polishing sequence.
For salt & pepper and exposed aggregate finishes, we use a multi-stage mechanical grinding and polishing process with industrial diamond tooling. Where required, we repair imperfections, densify the surface with chemical hardeners, and polish to the specified sheen level.
Finally, we apply a commercial-grade stain guard/sealer and burnish the surface to deliver a hard-wearing, easy-to-maintain result.
If you’re comparing options, we’ll advise which of our polished concrete floors London systems best suits your design intent, programme and build-up.
Tip: Programme matters. Polished concrete success comes from getting the pour, curing, joints, levels, protection and follow-on trades managed properly — we’ll advise you on the practicalities at enquiry stage.
These polished concrete floors London projects range from high-end residential to retail, commercial and hospitality interiors.
-Modern residential interiors and open-plan kitchens
– Retail units, shops, showrooms and galleries
– Commercial offices and workspaces
– Industrial floors and converted warehouse spaces
– Hospitality interiors — restaurants, bars, hotels
Use the chart below to choose your colour-hardened (dry shake) tone.
Please note: colour samples are representative. Final colour can vary due to cement, aggregates, site conditions, finishing technique, curing and lighting.
Below are some of the most common questions we’re asked about LPC Hardcrete microcement. Whether you’re planning a residential renovation or a commercial fit-out, these answers should help clarify what to expect. If you need technical advice for a specific project, speak to our team.
Polished concrete is a decorative concrete floor that has been mechanically ground, refined and sealed to produce a durable, seamless surface. The final appearance is created either through a colour-hardened surface, or by grinding and polishing the concrete slab to reveal varying levels of aggregate. The result is a long-lasting floor with excellent wear resistance, minimal maintenance requirements and a clean, contemporary aesthetic.
LPC Hardcrete Microcement and polished concrete floors are both seamless, design-led finishes, but they differ in construction method, programme implications, and architectural intent.
A polished concrete floor forms part of the structural concrete layer. It is either created through a colour-hardened (dry shake) finish applied to fresh concrete, or by grinding and polishing a concrete slab to reveal varying levels of aggregate. Polished concrete is typically specified where a new slab is being installed or where an existing concrete base is suitable for refinement. It offers depth, mass, and a material-led aesthetic that celebrates the concrete itself.
An LPC Hardcrete Microcement floor is a thin, cement-based system applied over an existing, prepared substrate. It allows for a seamless concrete-look finish without the need for a new structural slab. Hardcrete is particularly well suited to refurbishment projects, tighter programmes, or situations where floor build-up height needs to be kept to a minimum.
From an architectural perspective, polished concrete is often chosen when the floor is intended to be a core structural and visual element of the building, while Hardcrete Microcement is selected when flexibility, adaptability and refined surface control are priorities.
Both systems deliver durable, contemporary finishes. The right choice depends on factors such as:
London Polished Concrete advises on both options at design stage to ensure the chosen system aligns with the practical and aesthetic goals of the project.
London Polished Concrete installs three main types of polished concrete floors:
Colour-hardened (dry shake) polished concrete – where a dry shake colour hardener is applied to fresh concrete and power-trowelled to form a dense, coloured wearing surface.
Salt & pepper polished concrete – a lightly ground and polished finish that reveals fine aggregate within the concrete.
Fully exposed aggregate polished concrete – a deeper grind that exposes more of the stone structure, creating a bolder, terrazzo-like appearance.
Each option has different visual and technical characteristics, and we help clients select the most appropriate system for their project.
The key difference lies in how the surface is formed and what is visible in the finished floor.
Colour-hardened polished concrete relies on a dry shake applied to the surface of freshly poured concrete. This creates a consistent colour and a very dense, abrasion-resistant top layer, with little to no visible aggregate.
Exposed aggregate polished concrete is achieved by mechanically grinding the cured slab to reveal the natural aggregates within the concrete mix. The deeper the grind, the more aggregate is visible, resulting in greater visual texture and variation.
“Salt and pepper” refers to a light aggregate exposure created during the grinding process. Small flecks of stone become visible across the surface, giving the floor subtle texture without the bold patterning of a fully exposed aggregate finish.
This finish is popular in high-end residential and commercial spaces where a natural concrete look is desired without strong visual contrast.
Polished concrete is extremely durable when correctly specified and installed. It performs well in both residential and commercial environments, including high-traffic areas such as retail units, offices and hospitality spaces.
The densification and polishing process strengthens the surface, improving abrasion resistance and long-term performance. With appropriate maintenance, polished concrete floors can last for decades.
Despite its smooth appearance, polished concrete is not inherently slippery. Slip resistance depends on the surface finish, level of polish, and the environment it is used in.
Slip resistance depends on the surface finish, level of polish and the environment the floor is used in. In dry conditions, polished concrete performs very well. Where required, slip resistance can be enhanced through finish selection and surface treatments, in line with guidance published by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
All concrete moves and will crack in a controlled or uncontrolled manner. Joints are a necessary part of concrete floor design and are used to manage shrinkage and movement.
Cracks can occur despite best practice, and in polished concrete they may remain visible as part of the natural character of the floor. London Polished Concrete advises on joint layout, crack risk and realistic expectations at design stage to ensure the finished floor performs as intended.
London Polished Concrete installs new concrete slabs and also works with existing concrete floors, depending on the project requirements.
For new-builds and extensions, we often manage the slab installation as part of the polished concrete system. On refurbishment projects, we assess the existing concrete to determine whether it is suitable for grinding and polishing.
Where a new slab is required, polished concrete floors are typically installed at around 100mm thickness, subject to structural design, reinforcement and substrate conditions.
Build-ups vary depending on insulation, underfloor heating, structural requirements and finish specification. We work closely with clients, architects and engineers to confirm the correct build-up for each project.
Programme length depends on the chosen finish and whether a new slab is being installed.
New slabs require time for preparation, pouring, curing and controlled drying before grinding and polishing can begin. Exposed aggregate finishes generally take longer due to the additional grinding stages required.
We provide clear programme guidance during the quotation stage so expectations are managed from the outset.
Yes. Polished concrete works extremely well with underfloor heating systems. The concrete slab acts as a thermal mass, absorbing heat and releasing it evenly across the space.
Correct coordination during installation is essential, particularly with pipe layout, curing times and commissioning of the heating system.
Polished concrete is suitable for a wide range of environments, including:
The specific finish and detailing should always be matched to the intended use.
The choice depends on your aesthetic preference, performance requirements, and programme constraints.
Colour-hardened finishes offer consistency and a dense wearing surface. Salt & pepper finishes provide subtle texture and a natural concrete look. Fully exposed aggregate finishes create a more expressive, statement floor.
We guide clients through this decision based on real-world outcomes, not just samples.
Polished concrete floors are low maintenance. Routine cleaning typically involves sweeping or vacuuming, followed by damp mopping with a pH-neutral cleaner.
No waxing or frequent re-coating is required. Periodic professional maintenance may be recommended in high-traffic commercial environments to preserve appearance and performance.
Whether you’re a homeowner, architect, interior designer or main contractor — we’ll help you select the right polished concrete option and deliver it properly, with clear expectations on finish, joints, programme and maintenance. Speak to our team about polished concrete floors London, including colour-hardened and exposed aggregate options.
Our signature trowel-applied concrete system, built for depth, texture, and architectural character.
Full mechanical polishing of existing concrete surfaces for a clean, refined aesthetic and enhanced durability.
High-performance subfloor screeds and levelling layers, ready for surface application or final finish.
