How To Choose Between Polished And Sealed Concrete Finishes

Along with being incredibly easy to clean and maintain, concrete finishes provide a sleek, modern element to any home. One of the few downsides to concrete is that it can crack, but that isn't a problem if you pick up the best concrete repair product on the market. Choosing to install concrete walls or floors is also a bit more complicated than picking out a shade of stone. Before you start installing concrete in your home, you have to pick between a polished or sealed finish. 

Both polishing and sealing concrete shields it from damage, but sealing adds product to the flooring while polishing alters the concrete itself. Sealed concrete is simply concrete that has been coated with different types of sealents, such as acrylic, epoxy, or polyurethane. Polished concrete, on the other hand, is professionally ground down with tools to create a glossy finish. Either type of finish makes the concrete nice and smooth, but both have different pros and cons that make them better suited for different applications.

To know whether concrete flooring is right for your home, you have to consider factors such as durability and price. Any type of concrete finish is quite durable, but polished concrete is especially resistant to small scuffs and nicks. This makes polished concrete incredibly easy to sweep up since there aren't any scratches to trap dust and debris. But, while polished concrete may be nearly indestructible, it is not waterproof. It is possible for it to absorb water that can eventually attract mildew and even mold, plus any spilled liquid that isn't cleaned up immediately may seep down into the cement and leave a mark. Raw concrete is also extremely hard, so it can be uncomfortable to stand on for too long.

Unlike sealed concrete, once concrete has been polished, it only takes regular cleaning to retain its sheen and it shouldn't ever need to be redone. Because it is so strong and long-lasting, polished concrete is recommended for spaces that see a lot of wear and tear, such as basements, warehouses, or in luxury spaces that call for a stunning floor or wall finish. Costs for installing polished concrete can be up to $10 per square foot.

The materials used to seal concrete may not be as tough against minor damage as unfinished concrete, but it does create a slick, waterproof barrier. Any type of sealant can prevent water from seeping through, and some varieties are even resistant to certain chemicals. As a result, sealed concrete finishes don't absorb liquids that can lead to stains. You can also choose the color and sheen of your sealant, so there are a lot of opportunities for customization. Sealed concrete is best for rooms that might see a lot of spills, including garages or pantries.

Unfortunately, all types of sealant become worn down over time. Depending on what variety you choose, you may have to get concrete resealed as often as once a year, or as rarely as once every ten years. On the plus side, sealing concrete is cheaper than polishing concrete, and is generally affordable — unlike other flooring materials that aren't worth the cost. It can be less than $1 a square foot for materials to seal concrete; if you buy the supplies, you can even seal it yourself.