Polished concrete turns the slab you already have into the finished floor. We grind the surface with progressively finer diamond tooling, treat it with a densifier that hardens the top layer, and polish it to the sheen you choose, from a soft matte to a full gloss.
We polish basement floors, garage conversions, shops, studios, and retail and restaurant space across Lawrence. Most of the work is on existing slabs, including ones that have spent years under carpet, tile glue, or paint. Every project starts with a site visit and a written estimate.
What you get
How we polish a concrete floor
Polished concrete has moved from warehouses into Lawrence living rooms, basements, shops, and storefronts. We grind the slab through progressively finer diamonds, densify it, and polish to the sheen you pick, from a soft matte to mirror gloss. The finished floor has no wax and no coating to peel, and cleaning it takes a dust mop and an occasional damp mop.
Existing slabs usually qualify. Basement floors, garage conversions, and retail spaces with old glue and paint clean up under the grinder, and we can add stain during the process for color. We fill the cracks, then either leave them visible as part of the floor or color-blend them. That choice is yours.
Polished floors run cool in summer, work over radiant heat in new construction, and hold up to dogs, kids, and shop traffic. We polish a test area first so you approve the sheen and color on your own slab before we run the full floor.
Polished concrete cost in Lawrence, KS
Polishing an existing slab in the Lawrence area usually runs $3 to $8 per square foot. The price moves with the sheen level, the amount of glue or coating we have to remove, crack repair, and whether you add stain. A matte finish on a clean slab sits at the low end. A stained, high-gloss floor over old tile adhesive sits at the high end.
Per square foot, polishing an existing slab usually costs less than tile, wood, or quality LVP once you price the full install. Every estimate is written and itemized after we see the floor.
Polished concrete or an epoxy coating
Polished concrete and epoxy solve different problems. Polishing works the concrete itself, so nothing sits on top to peel or wear through. Epoxy puts a film over the slab, which resists oil and chemicals better and hides a rough surface.
We usually recommend polish for basements, living space, and retail floors, and a coating for garages and shop bays that see oil and hot tires. Our garage floors page covers the coating options.
Polished floors in Lawrence basements, shops, and storefronts
Most polished concrete calls in Lawrence start with a floor somebody uncovered. A basement in an older home loses its carpet after a wet spring, or a downtown tenant pulls up old tile and finds a solid slab under the glue. Those slabs usually polish well, because grinding takes off the adhesive and paint and leaves the original concrete.
Moisture is the first thing we check. Douglas County clay holds water against basement walls and floors, and a slab that takes on moisture from below can lift a coating or cloud a topical sealer. We test the slab before quoting color work. A polished floor has no film on top, so it lets the slab breathe, and we tell you when that makes it a better fit than a coating.
Polishing is interior work, so it runs all year. Winter is our fastest season for it because exterior pours stop when the ground freezes. Most residential floors take a few days, and the schedule depends on the square footage and how much old adhesive we have to grind off.
Where we do this work
We provide polished concrete floors across Lawrence and Douglas County:
Polished Concrete Floors: common questions
Can my existing concrete floor be polished?
Usually, yes. Basement floors, garage conversions, and commercial slabs with old glue or paint clean up under the grinder. A slab that is badly spalled or very soft may need a topping first, and we tell you that at the site visit.
How much does polished concrete cost in Lawrence?
Most existing slabs run $3 to $8 per square foot, depending on sheen, surface prep, crack repair, and stain. You get a written, itemized price after we see the floor.
Is polished concrete slippery?
A clean, dry polished floor grips about as well as other hard flooring. Like tile or sealed wood, it gets slick when wet, so we recommend mats at entries.
How do I maintain a polished concrete floor?
Dust mop it regularly and damp mop with a neutral cleaner. The floor needs no wax or stripping.