In short: polished concrete is a structural concrete slab that has been ground and sealed to a sheen, so the floor is the concrete itself. Microcement is a thin coating, usually 2 to 3mm, applied over an existing surface to imitate that concrete look without needing a slab. For most homes the microcement polished concrete effect is the more practical choice; true polished concrete makes most sense when there is already a slab or one is being poured, and in commercial spaces. The rest of this guide explains why, so you can decide which is right for your project.

At a glance

The real difference, explained

Polished concrete is a process applied to concrete that is already there. A cured slab is ground with progressively finer diamond tooling, densified, and sealed until it shines. Because you are polishing the actual structure, the result carries the honesty of the material: subtle variation, the odd blemish, control joints, and the colour of the concrete and its aggregate. It is a genuinely beautiful, hard-wearing floor, and it is at its best in new builds where the slab is planned for it, in conversions with an existing slab, and in retail and commercial spaces.

Microcement solves a different problem: how to get that concrete look when there is no slab to polish, or when ripping out the existing floor is not practical. It is a coating, hand-applied in thin layers over almost any sound substrate, then sealed. Because the colour is chosen rather than inherited from the concrete, you get far more control and a more consistent finish, which is what most homeowners actually want when they picture a polished concrete floor. It works in rooms where a structural polish cannot, including bathrooms and wet rooms.

Cost: which is cheaper?

There is no honest single answer, because it depends on your starting point. If you already have a sound concrete slab, polishing it can be cost-effective because you are finishing something that already exists. If you do not have a slab, creating one purely to polish is expensive and disruptive, and a microcement overlay is usually the more sensible spend. Both are priced by area, substrate, system and detail, and smaller areas cost more per square metre because set-up is fixed. The reliable way to compare is a quote on your actual space rather than a headline rate.

Durability and maintenance

Both are hard-wearing and low-maintenance when installed correctly. A polished slab is extremely robust but can show the joints and hairline cracking inherent to concrete. A quality microcement, correctly sealed and installed over a stable substrate with movement provision, resists cracking and wipes clean with a pH-neutral cleaner. Neither is indestructible, and both can be refreshed rather than replaced. Most cracked or stained stories trace back to poor substrate preparation or a skipped step, not the material, which is why a proper survey matters more than the product name.

Which should you choose?

Choose true polished concrete if: you have an existing concrete slab or are pouring a new one, you want genuine material honesty and do not mind natural variation, and the space suits an industrial aesthetic, such as a new-build open plan, a conversion, or a commercial unit.

Choose microcement (the polished concrete effect) if: you are refurbishing rather than building, you do not have a slab to polish, you want control over colour and a more consistent finish, you need it in a bathroom, wet room or kitchen, or you want minimal disruption and build-up over an existing floor.

For most homes, that points to microcement. For a slab-led new build or a commercial space, it often points to true polished concrete.

How we can help

We specialise in the microcement route, the polished concrete effect, rather than grinding structural slabs, so if the overlay is what suits your project we can help directly. Our microcement and polished concrete effect page covers the overlay options, and our polished concrete floors page explains the finish and the honest difference in more detail. For rooms specifically, see resin and microcement kitchen floors and microcement bathrooms and wet rooms. If you genuinely need a ground and polished structural slab, that is a concrete polishing contractor’s job rather than ours, and we will say so. Still not sure? Send us a photo of your space with the quote form and we will tell you honestly which finish suits your project.

Frequently asked questions

Is microcement cheaper than polished concrete?

It depends on whether you already have a concrete slab. If you do, polishing it can be economical. If you do not, a microcement overlay is usually the more cost-effective way to get the look, because you avoid pouring and grinding a slab.

Is microcement as durable as polished concrete?

For domestic use, a correctly installed and sealed microcement floor is highly durable and easy to maintain. A structural polished slab is more robust in heavy commercial or industrial settings. For a home, the practical difference is small and both can be refreshed rather than replaced.

Can microcement look exactly like polished concrete?

It can look very close, and in many cases more refined, because you control the colour and consistency. In fact it often looks more seamless than the real thing: traditional polished concrete and power-floated slabs need expansion and crack-inducement joints built into them, which break up the surface, whereas a microcement overlay runs unbroken across the room.

Which is better for a bathroom or wet room?

Microcement, applied over correct tanking with a slip-resistant sealer. A structural polished slab is impractical in most domestic bathrooms and can be slippery when highly polished.