How does the process differ from having tiled, carpeted, or timber floors?

In a new build polished concrete floors are completed at the plaster stage before any skirts, cabinetry and joinery is installed.

Can grout lines be removed from concrete floors when polishing an old slab

It depends on how deep the grout lines are. We usually grind 3 – 5mm off the surface but can grind up to 10mm off so if they are deeper than that then they may still be visible in the finish.

Can I have burnished concrete flooring in a family home?

The quality of a burnished floor comes down to the quality of the concrete contractor. The contractor will typically run a powered trowel or "helicopter" over the wet concrete slab and with experience and care can achieve quite a smooth finish. It is not easy and any imperfection, gouge or non-level area or dip will be very visible in the final concrete floor.

What is the difference between a sealed floor and a polished floor?

A sealed floor (also known as a Grind and Seal) is machine grinding to the desired exposure followed by a Surface or Topical Sealer just like a timber floor.

What is the difference between CCC Polished Concrete and Grind and Seal?

CCC Polished Concrete is a top of the range method for finishing concrete floors.

What is the best way to finish off a burnished floor?

Burnished concrete flooring can either be machine polished or coated with a penetrating sealer. Most people we work with usually opt for a machine polished finish.

Do I need to advise the concreter and or supplier that the concrete will be polished?

Yes, this will avoid the concrete supplier from sending truck deliveries from different depots and using different batches of concrete. The concreter can then also take special care to avoid screed marks and aggregate inconsistency.

What about aggregates in concrete mix? What is generally available and what is recommended?