Short Answer: Everything for concrete polishing floors is economies of scale, smaller the scale you can typically see cost between $5-$25/sqft; bigger scale pricing can get down from $1-$5/sqft. Condition, timelines, add-ons like staining and patchwork, and other factors all play a part in pricing.
Introduction
If you're wondering how much it costs to polish concrete floors, we've got the answers. But first, let's talk about what "polishing concrete floors" actually means. When most people think of concrete, they think of the grayish-beige color that's characteristic of this building material. While some contractors and homeowners choose to leave their concrete in its natural state, others prefer a more polished look with a color variation that can range from light tan to dark brown — or even black! Depending on what type of finish you're looking for (and how many square feet need polishing), there are several methods that can be used when working with this type of surface material. Here we'll go over some frequently asked questions regarding how much polishing concrete will cost:
Labor
Labor costs will vary depending on the size of your job and the contractor's experience. Typically you'll find that roughly 1/3rd to 1/2 of cost go towards labor cost on site, for a typical 350sqft gig for concrete polishing you should expect roughly $3500-$5k cost overall and a third of those cost doing to labor cost. If you need to have a contractor come in more than once to complete your project, this cost goes up further.
Equipment
You'll also need to purchase or rent the equipment necessary for polishing concrete. The cost of this equipment depends on the size of your project and what type of machine you use. For example, grinders/polishers and vacuums can be rented for $400-$1,000/day together depending on size, with diamonds to be purchased for grinding/polishing for roughly $1,200 for a full set necessary for polishing to completion.
Professional contractors pay roughly $10,000 up to $60,000, and more, for grinder/polisher and vacuum setups.
Materials
In many cases, the materials are the most least expensive part of the job when it comes to concrete polishing. Typically densifier and bernishable sealant are roughly $500 all together for every 2,000sqft of polishing needed. Patching and filling materials do add to this cost however and can range from $250-$600 for every 2,000 sqft of polishing needed.
DIY
The amount you'll spend on polishing concrete floors depends on many factors, including the size of your space and its condition. If you hire a professional to do this work for you, expect to pay anywhere from $2 per square foot (for a polished concrete floor) to $20 per square foot (for an unpolished or stained concrete floor). Doing it on your own, you should expect probably $2-$15/sqft in cost, depending on the size of the space and it's condition.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you a better idea of the costs involved in polishing concrete floors. While it is certainly an expensive process, there are several ways to keep the cost down. If you want to do it yourself, then renting some of the equipment and going with minimal materials should be enough to get started. Otherwise, getting a professional quote will give you an idea if hiring someone else to do the job would be worth it or not! C*Rock Finishing is always here to help of course, inquire today to learn more!
