Concrete Polishing Services in Missouri

What is polished concrete, and how does it differ from sealed or stained concrete?

Polished concrete is a slab that has been ground smooth and then polished with diamond discs until it has a high-gloss surface. Sealing adds a protective layer on top. Staining changes the color. Many projects combine all three, but each step does a different job.

Finish	What it does	When AES applies it
Grinding	Removes high spots, adhesive and old coatings, and levels the slab	First step on almost every job
Polishing	Brings up the gloss with finer diamond grades	After grinding
Staining	Adds color that looks like stone or marble	After grinding and polishing
Sealing	Protects against scratches, chips and stains	On polished or rough concrete

The glossary entry on polished concrete gives the short definition. If you are weighing polish against a coating, read polished concrete vs epoxy and the epoxy floor coatings page.

Polished concrete uses the slab you already have. That is why it often costs less and goes in faster than tile, stone or a new floor covering. AES says the finish “often is thought to resemble stone or other costlier materials.”

How are concrete floors ground, honed and polished?

A crew grinds the slab first to flatten it and strip off anything stuck to it. Then it polishes the surface in stages, each with finer diamond discs than the last. A final pass with the finest grade gives the shine. A polishing compound may remove any leftover residue.

AES says its machines use discs impregnated with real diamonds, and “each stage of the grinding and polishing process uses a finer grade of diamonds.” Here is the usual order:

1. Inspect and prep. Check cracks, joints, coatings and moisture. Remove old flooring and adhesive.
2. Grind. Use concrete grinding with coarser discs to level the slab and remove surface flaws.
3. Refine. Step through finer grits to smooth the surface and remove scratch marks from the previous pass.
4. Harden if needed. Some systems use a densifier, a liquid that firms up the surface. Ask your installer whether your floor needs one.
5. Polish. Finish with the finest diamond grade for gloss.
6. Stain or seal. Add color or a protective sealer if the plan calls for it.

AES says its dust suppression systems keep dust out of the air during grinding. That matters in medical, pharmaceutical and food areas, and in any building that stays open during the work.

AES says its equipment has a much higher capability than machines you can rent, which makes the job quicker and the result better.

What finishes are available: staining, sealing and color?

AES offers two finish options on top of polish: stain for color and sealer for protection. Stain gives a stone or marble look at a fraction of the cost of the real material. Sealer protects the surface from scratches, chips and stains, and makes it resistant to chemicals.

Staining. After grinding and polishing, AES applies a mixture of acid, metallic salts and other materials. It reacts with the concrete and changes its color. Because the stain reacts with your slab, every floor looks different. Colors can be mixed to create patterns. See concrete staining.

Sealing. Concrete is permeable, which makes it vulnerable to chips, cracks and chemical exposure. AES says sealing makes the surface harder to penetrate and easy to clean. Sealer can go over a polished floor or over rough concrete. See concrete sealing.

A few planning notes:

• Choose the look before you grind. Stain takes best on a surface prepared for it.
• Match the finish to the traffic. A bright showroom wants gloss. A shop floor may want a sealer for oil and chemical spills.
• Ask for a sample area on a hidden spot when color matters.

Where is polished concrete used?

Polished concrete suits large floors that see heavy traffic, which is why AES installs it in commercial and industrial buildings. It also works in homes. AES lists manufacturing plants, offices, schools, hospitals, malls, showrooms and garages among its typical settings.

Setting	Why it fits	AES page
Showrooms, malls, offices	Gloss, fast install, easy cleaning	Commercial concrete polishing
Factories, warehouses, workshops	Durability under loads and machinery, stain resistance	Industrial concrete polishing
Hospitals, labs, schools	Smooth surface, less dust and mildew buildup	Concrete finishing FAQs
Restaurants, kitchens, salons, churches	Low maintenance, attractive finish	Concrete staining
Garages, homes	Durable surface from the slab you have	Concrete sealing

AES also says polished concrete can improve indoor air quality by reducing or eliminating dust, mold and mildew buildup, and that it produces less waste than many flooring options. Its page notes that polished concrete can help cool the environment in warm weather.

How long does polished concrete last, and how do you maintain it?

A polished floor lasts for many years. AES says heavy-traffic places may need to redo the finish every 5 to 10 years, and it describes that as a quick and affordable process with very little downtime. Daily care is simple: AES says a damp cloth or mop is all most cleaning requires.

Your own timeline depends on three things:

• Traffic. Forklifts, carts and foot traffic wear the gloss in lanes first.
• Spills and grit. Sand and dirt act like sandpaper. Entry mats help.
• Sealer. A sealer protects the surface and may need renewal.

A short care routine keeps a floor looking good:

1. Dust mop daily in busy areas.
2. Damp mop with a cleaner your installer approves.
3. Wipe spills quickly.
4. Put mats at entrances.
5. Call for a refinish when the shine fades in main traffic paths.

The post on how long polished concrete lasts goes deeper on wear and refinish timing.

How is old adhesive or coating removed before finishing?

AES removes old flooring, adhesive and coatings by shot blasting or by grinding with diamond-disc machines, depending on the floor. The machines carry dust suppression systems. Once the slab is clean, it is ready for polish, stain, sealer or a new floor covering.

Old floor tile and the glue under it can contain asbestos. AES says it can test, remove and dispose of such flooring and adhesive, and it follows the rules for asbestos floor tile and asbestos tile removal. Do not scrape, sand or grind old tile or mastic yourself. Learn what mastic is and why it matters before you start any demo.

AES lists four reasons to grind before any new flooring:

• Remove adhesive, glue, grout and old coatings.
• Level the slab so doors close and water drains.
• Clear oil and dirt from the surface.
• Prepare the slab for polish, stain, sealer or a new floor covering.

This is one advantage of using one contractor. AES handles the floor adhesive removal, the asbestos testing if needed and the finishing. The concrete floor prep guide shows how prep decides the final result.

What does polished concrete cost, and what changes the price?

AES does not publish a price, because each floor is different. The main cost drivers are floor size, slab condition, how much old material must be removed, the level of polish and any stain or sealer. AES offers a free quote.

Factor	How it affects price
Square footage	More area means more time and more discs
Slab condition	Cracks, uneven spots and patches add work
Old coating or adhesive	Removal comes first and may need asbestos testing
Polish level	A higher gloss takes more passes
Stain or sealer	Each adds materials and labor
Access and schedule	Night or phased work in occupied buildings can change the plan

AES says polished concrete costs less than most other durable flooring and is quicker to install in most cases. Compare quotes by scope: what prep is included, how many passes, whether stain or sealer is in the price, and whether adhesive removal is separate.

Next step

Ready to price a floor? Call AES at (314) 865-2662 or request a free quote through the contact page. Send the square footage, the current floor surface and any coating or tile you know about, and ask for a written scope.