Honed and sealed
The slab is ground through several grit steps to a flat, matte surface, hardened with a densifier, and sealed with a penetrating sealer that soaks in rather than sitting on top.
What you see. A soft matte surface with no reflection. Whatever aggregate you choose is visible. Because the sealer penetrates, the surface you touch is concrete.
Where it suits. External areas and anywhere slip resistance matters - pool surrounds, patios, entries, driveways. Also the right choice indoors where you want concrete to read as concrete.
What to know. Matte hides scratches and foot traffic better than any other finish. It is the most forgiving option, and the one we recommend most often for outdoor work.
The numbers
- Gloss (DOI)
- 0-9
- Grit sequence
- 20-150 metal, grout, resin 50-200, densify, seal
- Removal depth
- 1.5-3 mm
- Slab flatness
- FF 25-35
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
- Pool surrounds and coping
- Patios, entries and alfresco areas
- Driveways and paths
- Interiors where you want a matte floor
Included
- Grinding to your chosen aggregate exposure
- Grit sequence to 200
- Lithium densifier
- Penetrating sealer
- Edges 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
Plans or inspect
From the plans at design stage, or on site: slab strength, where the stone sits, and what the edges and set-downs allow.
- 2
Sample area
The first step of the job: a small area finished on your own slab and signed off by you before we do the rest. It becomes the standard for the whole floor.
- 3
Grind
Metal diamonds to your exposure, then finer grits to a flat matte surface.
- 4
Densify and seal
Densifier hardens the surface; a penetrating sealer goes in, not on top.
Time on site. Usually four to five days on site for a typical house, plus a return visit to seal.
Price. Quoted per job, from plans or a site visit. Area is one factor; stone exposure, edges, access and slab condition matter as much.
Questions
Is honed concrete slippery around a pool?
Honed is the matte, low-gloss finish and is the usual choice around pools. A penetrating sealer keeps the texture of the concrete underfoot. We can add an anti-slip treatment for wet areas if needed.
What is the difference between honed and polished?
Gloss. Honed stops at a matte surface with no reflection. Polished keeps going through finer resin grits until the surface reflects light.
Can you hone an existing patio?
Usually, yes. What we find in the slab decides how much stone shows. We show you the floor after the first pass, before going further.
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.