Polished Concrete vs. Screed Concrete: Which Is Best for Your Project?

Installation Processes Explained

Installation methods for polished concrete and screed concrete differ dramatically. Understanding these processes helps you plan timelines, manage expectations, and budget appropriately.

Both require skilled professionals. DIY attempts usually end badly.

Preparing the Base and Surface

For polished concrete, preparation starts with assessing the existing concrete slab. Contractors check for structural issues, cracks, spalling, or contamination. Repairs happen first. Cracks get filled with epoxy or polyurethane. Oil stains get treated. The surface must be sound and clean.

Any existing coatings need to be removed. Old paint, sealers, or adhesives get ground off. This prep work can take as long as the actual polishing, depending on the slab condition.

For screed concrete, the base slab needs cleaning and priming. Loose debris, dust, and contaminants are removed completely. A bonding agent or primer gets applied to help the screed adhere to the base concrete.

The base must be damp but not wet. Too dry, and the base sucks moisture from the screed too quickly. Too wet and bonding suffers.

Step-by-Step Polished Concrete Installation

Polished concrete installation follows a systematic grinding and polishing process:

1. Initial grinding removes surface imperfections and old coatings using coarse diamond segments (30-40 grit). This stage opens the concrete pores and levels the surface.
2. Grouting and repairs fill small holes and voids with epoxy or grout mixed to match the concrete colour. This creates a smooth, uniform surface for finer grinding.
3. Progressive grinding moves through finer grits (80, 150, 400 grit) to refine the surface. Each pass creates a smoother finish and exposes more aggregate.
4. Densification applies a chemical hardener that penetrates the concrete, reacting with it to increase density and surface hardness. This strengthens the floor and improves stain resistance.
5. Final polishing uses very fine grits (800, 1500, 3000) to achieve the desired gloss level. More passes create a higher shine.
6. Sealing applies a protective sealer to enhance stain resistance and make maintenance easier. Some projects skip this if the densifier provides enough protection.

The installation process can vary in duration depending on project size and desired finish.

Step-by-Step Screed Concrete Installation

Screed concrete installation varies by screed type, but traditional methods follow this pattern:

1. Base preparation involves cleaning, priming, and sometimes dampening the base slab. Edge insulation or movement joints are installed if needed.
2. Mixing combines cement, sand, and water in precise ratios. The mix should be fairly dry, just wet enough to bind together. Too wet and it’ll crack as it dries.
3. Laying spreads the screed mix evenly across the base using screeding bars or laser-guided equipment. Thickness stays consistent throughout.
4. Compacting removes air pockets and ensures good contact with the base. This happens while lying or immediately after.
5. Finishing smooths the surface with floats or power trowels. The finish depends on what’s going on top. Rougher for tiles, smoother for vinyl.
6. Curing requires keeping the screed moist for several days to prevent rapid drying and cracking. Plastic sheeting or curing compounds help.

Liquid screed simplifies installation. It gets pumped in and self-levels, requiring minimal manual work. It’s faster and creates exceptionally flat surfaces.

Typical Project Timelines and Curing Requirements

Polished concrete installation requires a fully cured base slab, and the duration depends on the project size and slab condition. Newer concrete hasn’t fully cured and hardened, making polishing difficult and potentially damaging.

The total timeline from base concrete to finished polished floor depends on curing and project scope.

Screed concrete requires curing before foot traffic or floor installation, with timelines varying by type and environmental conditions.

Temperature and humidity affect curing dramatically. Cold weather slows everything down. Hot, dry conditions can cause cracking if curing isn’t managed properly.

Appearance, Texture, and Design Flexibility

Visual appeal matters enormously for finished floors. Polished concrete and screed concrete offer different aesthetic possibilities.

Finish and Visual Effect

Polished concrete looks sleek and modern. The stones and sand inside the concrete show through, creating patterns that are different everywhere you look. No two sections look exactly the same, which gives it character.

You pick how shiny you want it:

• Matte (low shine, more casual)
• Satin (medium shine, most popular)
• High-gloss (mirror-like, very formal)

Bigger stones in the concrete create bold patterns. Smaller stones give a more subtle, refined look.

Screed concrete looks pretty plain – usually just flat, grey, and uniform. When it’s used as a finished floor (like in warehouses), it has a smooth but dull appearance. No depth, no character, just functional.

You can polish some screeds, but they won’t look as good as polished structural concrete. The stones are too small and don’t create the same visual interest.

Colour and Customisation Options

Polished concrete colour comes primarily from the base concrete and aggregate. Natural concrete ranges from light grey to darker charcoal, depending on cement type and aggregate colour.

Customisation options include:

• Acid staining: Creates earthy, variegated tones (browns, greens, blues) through chemical reactions
• Dye staining: Provides more vibrant, consistent colours
• Scoring and sawcuts: Creates patterns, borders, or geometric designs
• Aggregate seeding: Small decorative stones or glass are added to the surface, creating unique patterns and texture for a custom design

Screed concrete can be coloured during mixing by adding pigments. This creates uniform colour throughout the thickness. However, surface wear might expose different tones over time.

Toppings and coatings can be applied to screed for decorative effects, but these add cost and potentially reduce durability.

Modern Design Trends with Each Type

Polished concrete dominates modern and industrial design aesthetics. It’s huge in:

• Trendy retail spaces and showrooms
• Contemporary homes and loft conversions
• Modern offices and co-working spaces
• Restaurants and cafes are going for urban vibes

The trend leans toward exposed aggregate with semi-gloss finishes. People want the texture and visual interest without the maintenance challenges of high-gloss finishes.

Screed concrete rarely features in design trends as a finished floor. Its role remains mostly functional. When it does appear as a finished surface, it’s usually in ultra-minimalist or brutalist designs where the plain, industrial look is intentional.

Performance and Durability

Long-term performance matters as much as initial appearance. Floors take serious abuse, especially in commercial and industrial settings.

Load-Bearing and Traffic Resistance

Polished concrete handles extreme loads and traffic exceptionally well. The grinding and densification process actually increases surface hardness. Polished concrete can withstand forklift traffic, heavy equipment, and constant foot traffic without degrading.

The Mohs hardness scale, which measures scratch resistance from 1 to 10, rates polished concrete around 7–9, similar to natural stone. This hardness makes it highly resistant to abrasion, impacts, and scratching.

Screed concrete’s load-bearing capacity depends on its composition and thickness. Traditional sand/cement screed handles moderate loads well, but can’t match structural concrete or polished concrete for extreme applications.

Thin screeds (25-35mm) work fine for residential foot traffic but struggle under heavy point loads. Thicker screeds (50-75mm) or polymer-modified versions handle heavier use.

For industrial applications requiring serious durability, polished concrete beats screed every time.

Maintenance Needs Over Time

Polished concrete is dead easy to maintain. Sweep or dust mop regularly, damp mop occasionally with pH-neutral cleaner, and you’re done. You might need resealing every 3-5 years, though many floors never need it. There’s no coating to wear off since the surface itself is the finish.

Screed concrete needs more attention:

• Needs sealing to prevent dust and stains
• Seal wears off, needs reapplying every 1-3 years
• Unsealed screed creates constant dust
• Requires more frequent cleaning

Common Problems (Cracking, Stains, Wear)

Polished concrete can develop cracks if the base concrete cracks, though this is rare with proper joints. Stains happen if spills sit too long on matte finishes. High-traffic areas might dull after 10-15 years, but you can repolish them.

Screed concrete has more problems:

• Cracks easily if mixed wrong or cured badly
• Cracks if too thin or base prep was poor
• Can separate from base concrete (delamination)
• Cracks show through tiles and vinyl laid on top

Screed needs everything done perfectly, or problems appear quickly. Polished concrete is much more forgiving.