Polished concrete is not a coating. It is the concrete slab itself — ground, densified, and polished to a finished surface that eliminates recurring floor covering costs, resists abrasion for decades, and reflects ambient light to reduce lighting energy consumption. ATR Floors polishes commercial concrete in offices, retail, lobbies, warehouses, schools, and industrial facilities across the Twin Cities.
100–3,000
Grit Polish Range
10+ yrs
Lifecycle vs. Carpet/LVT
4 Levels
Aggregate Exposure
The problem
Heavy traffic and cleaning demands make replaceable floor coverings expensive to maintain over time.
How ATR solves it
ATR turns the structural concrete into a densified, polished working surface matched to the traffic and appearance goals.
The problem
Patches, stains, cracks, previous coatings, and aggregate variation will affect the final polished appearance.
How ATR solves it
ATR evaluates the slab early, sets realistic exposure expectations, and includes repair and preparation in the scope.
The problem
Peeling coatings, adhesive residue, or contamination prevent the slab from being polished as-is.
How ATR solves it
ATR removes failed materials and prepares the concrete before the polishing sequence begins.
The problem
Retail, office, warehouse, and institutional areas cannot remain unavailable for extended periods.
How ATR solves it
ATR phases preparation, polishing, guarding, and turnover around facility access and operating requirements.
Polished concrete is not the right floor for every commercial space — but where it works, it outperforms alternatives on lifecycle cost, maintenance, and durability.
Modern open-plan offices, co-working spaces, and corporate lobbies. Clean aesthetic, low maintenance, eliminates carpet replacement cycles. LEED credit contributions from reflective flooring.
High-gloss polished concrete creates a premium aesthetic in retail environments at a fraction of the cost of terrazzo or natural stone.
Polished concrete hardens the slab surface, reduces dusting, and creates a forklift-rated floor that does not require periodic recoating.
K-12 corridors, university common areas, and athletic facility lobbies. Resists the abrasion of high foot traffic and rolling loads with minimal maintenance.
Hotel lobbies, restaurant dining rooms, and event spaces. Polished concrete pairs with large-format tile and wood accents for a contemporary aesthetic.
Honed (matte), lightly polished, moderate gloss, or full 3,000-grit mirror. Cream, salt-and-pepper, medium, or full aggregate exposure. Specified per space, traffic, and design intent.
Polishing exposes aggregate within the slab to varying degrees. For projects where the natural concrete color is not the desired aesthetic, integral color in new toppings (Combimix CM 920), chemical stains, dye systems, and scored patterns are available.
Matte hone through 3,000-grit mirror — controlled across substrate prep, grinding, densification, and sealing.
Lithium silicate hardener reacts with the slab to form crystalline structure; penetrating guard resists staining.
Written warranty on every commercial polish. Material warranties from densifier and sealer manufacturers separately.
When the existing slab won't polish evenly, we install a Combimix CM 920/960 topping that polishes to architectural finish.
New slabs with no existing coatings: 400 to 600 sq ft per day per crew for a full 3,000-grit polish. Existing slabs requiring coating removal and deep grinding: 200 to 400 sq ft per day per crew. Large open floor plates are faster; cut-up spaces with many walls and penetrations are slower.
Daily dust mopping, weekly damp mopping with a pH-neutral cleaner, and annual or bi-annual re-application of penetrating guard sealer. No waxing, no stripping, no periodic recoating. The maintenance simplicity is one of the primary reasons facility managers specify polished concrete.
Yes, in most cases. The slab must have adequate compressive strength (minimum 3,000 psi recommended) and aggregate density. Slabs with very lightweight aggregate, extensive patch repairs, or severe structural damage may not polish evenly. We assess every slab before committing to a polish specification.
Polished concrete is the concrete itself, hardened and sealed. It does not delaminate, peel, or blister the way topical coatings can. In environments with heavy abrasion, polished concrete maintains its appearance longer than standard epoxy systems. Epoxy offers chemical resistance and color customization that polished concrete does not — the right choice depends on the environment.
For offices, we typically recommend a moderate polish (1,500 grit) — enough sheen to reflect light and create a contemporary feel without glare under overhead lighting. For retail and showrooms, a high polish (3,000 grit) makes a design statement. For industrial, a hone (400 grit) provides surface hardness without cosmetic concern.
Include sq ft, existing slab condition, and target finish level. We respond within one business day with a polish spec.
