Commercial Floors: Coatings vs Polished Concrete

When it comes to commercial flooring, property owners and managers often find themselves choosing between concrete coatings—such as epoxy flooring or polyaspartic systems—and polished concrete. Both options can look great, but they offer very different performance benefits. At Elevated Coatings, we help businesses choose the right solution based on durability, maintenance needs, and budget.

1. Appearance and Customization

• Polished Concrete: Offers a natural, glossy look with varying levels of sheen. Great for a minimalist, industrial style but limited in color and pattern options.

• Concrete Coatings: Available in endless colors, flake blends, metallic finishes, and custom designs. With epoxy flooring, you can incorporate safety striping, branding, or decorative patterns to match your commercial space.
  If you want complete design flexibility, Elevated Coatings’ coating systems are the clear winner.

2. Durability and Protection

• Polished Concrete: While durable, it’s still porous and susceptible to stains, chemicals, and moisture penetration.

• Concrete Coatings: Epoxy flooring and polyaspartic coatings form a sealed, non-porous barrier that protects against chemicals, oils, and abrasions. They’re ideal for high-traffic environments like warehouses, retail spaces, and even epoxy garage floor installations.
  For commercial spaces that need heavy-duty protection, coatings outperform polished concrete.

3. Maintenance Requirements

• Polished Concrete: Requires regular cleaning and occasional re-polishing to maintain its shine. Stains can be permanent if not addressed quickly.

• Concrete Coatings: Easy to maintain—just sweep and mop. No re-polishing needed. Stains wipe away without leaving marks.
  If low maintenance is a priority, epoxy flooring is the more practical choice.

4. Safety Features

• Polished Concrete: Can be slippery when wet unless special traction treatments are added.

• Concrete Coatings: Slip-resistant additives can be built right into the system, making it safer for employees and customers.
  For environments where slip prevention is critical, coatings give you a customizable edge.

5. Installation and Downtime

• Polished Concrete: Requires grinding, densifying, and polishing, which can take several days depending on the size of the space.

• Concrete Coatings: With polyaspartic systems from Elevated Coatings, floors can be ready for use in as little as 24 hours—perfect for businesses that can’t afford long shutdowns.

Making the Right Choice

If you love the natural look and don’t mind some upkeep, polished concrete can be a great option. But if you want maximum durability, chemical resistance, design flexibility, and low maintenance, epoxy flooring or polyaspartic coatings from Elevated Coatings are the best choice for commercial applications.

Ready to Upgrade Your Floors?

Contact Elevated Coatings today for a free consultation and find out whether polished concrete or a professional epoxy garage floor-quality coating system is right for your commercial space.