Grind and seal
The slab is ground back enough to flatten it and open the surface, then sealed with a coating that sits on top of the concrete.
What you see. A clean, even floor with a consistent sheen. The coating carries the gloss, not the concrete. Colour is slightly deepened.
Where it suits. Garages, workshops, laundries, external areas, and renovations over older slabs where the concrete itself is not good enough to polish.
What to know. The sheen is a coating, so it wears in traffic lanes and needs recoating every few years. A damaged patch cannot be repaired invisibly - the floor is recoated, or you live with the join.
The numbers
- Gloss (DOI)
- 40-70 (from the coating)
- Grit sequence
- 40 and 80 metal, 50 resin, then coat
- Removal depth
- 0.5-1.5 mm
- Slab flatness
- FF 25 or better
Removal depth depends on the aggregate exposure you choose as much as the finish. Full stone exposure takes 5-6 mm.
Who it is for
- Garages and workshops
- Laundries and utility rooms
- Older slabs that will not polish well
- Covered outdoor areas
Included
- Grinding to flatten the slab and open the surface
- Filling of small holes and surface cracks
- Topical sealer, two coats
- Edges and corners by hand, to within 3-6 mm of walls
Not included
- Removing tiles, carpet, glue or old coatings - quoted separately after we see them
- Structural crack repair or slab levelling
- Moving furniture and appliances
How it runs
- 1
Inspect
We look at the slab, test for old coatings and check power on site.
- 2
Grind
Metal diamonds flatten the slab and open the surface so the sealer can bond.
- 3
Fill
Small holes and surface cracks are filled and ground back flush.
- 4
Seal
Two coats of sealer, with a cure between them.
Time on site. Usually two to three days on site for a double garage, plus cure time before cars go back on.
Price. Quoted per job, from photos or a site visit. Area is one factor; slab condition, access and edges matter as much. Removing old coatings or glue is quoted on top.
Questions
How long does a grind and seal last?
Indoors, a coating usually needs a recoat every three to five years depending on traffic. Outdoors or in wet areas, two to four years.
Can you grind and seal over an old painted or epoxied floor?
Yes, but the old coating has to come off first. That is extra grinding and is quoted once we have seen the floor.
Is grind and seal slippery?
A plain coating can be slippery when wet. For garages, wet areas and outdoors, an anti-slip additive can go into the final coat.
Other finishes
Tell us about the slab.
Still at plans stage, slab poured, or a floor that is already down - send what you have. Plans, photos or a rough area. We come back with what the slab can do and a day count.