What is the difference between burnished and polished concrete?

Polished concrete is ground through finer and finer abrasives. Burnished concrete is finished with a high-speed burnishing machine that buffs the troweled surface and its sealer. Burnished usually has a softer sheen and less depth.

How much does burnished concrete cost?

It depends on the area, the slab and the sheen. Burnishing is usually a lighter process than a full polish, so we price each job after seeing the details.

Is burnished concrete good for warehouses?

It is a common choice for warehouses, workshops and retail floors. It is easy to sweep and can be re-burnished when traffic dulls it.

Can a burnished floor be refreshed?

Yes. Where traffic wears the sheen, the floor can be cleaned and burnished again.

Burnished concrete floors in Bunbury and the South West

Burnished concrete floor finished by Clutch Construction

Clutch Construction finishes burnished concrete floors in Bunbury and the South West of Western Australia, mainly for warehouses, workshops, shops and large open floors where coverage matters as much as looks.

How it works

Burnishing starts with a well-finished, troweled slab. A high-speed machine with burnishing pads then works the surface and its sealer, which brings up a soft, even sheen. It does not grind deep into the slab, so the surface stays close to the original concrete with a light gloss rather than a mirror shine.

Close-up of a burnished concrete surface

What you get

A smooth, easy-to-clean floor with a soft sheen.
A finish that suits large areas and can be maintained with regular sweeping and damp mopping.
The option to re-burnish later, rather than replace anything.

Because the sheen sits mostly in the surface layer, it shows traffic wear sooner than a ground and polished floor. That is the trade-off, and for many working floors it is the right one.

Burnishing machine working on a concrete floor

Choosing a finish

If you want more depth and a higher gloss, look at polished concrete. For a matte, grippier surface, usually for outdoor areas, see honed concrete. The finish comparison lays out all three.

Burnished floors suit many industrial jobs, and we also work on industrial sites.

Before you start

Burnishing relies on the slab beneath it, so the quality of the trowel finish matters. On a new slab, we plan the pour and the finishing time so the surface is ready for burnishing. On an existing floor, we check the condition and any coatings first. Tell us how the floor is used, what runs across it and whether it sees oil or chemicals, and we will say if burnishing suits it.

Where we work: Bunbury and the South West of Western Australia.

Common questions

What is the difference between burnished and polished concrete?: Polished concrete is ground through finer and finer abrasives. Burnished concrete is finished with a high-speed burnishing machine that buffs the troweled surface and its sealer. Burnished usually has a softer sheen and less depth.
How much does burnished concrete cost?: It depends on the area, the slab and the sheen. Burnishing is usually a lighter process than a full polish, so we price each job after seeing the details.
Is burnished concrete good for warehouses?: It is a common choice for warehouses, workshops and retail floors. It is easy to sweep and can be re-burnished when traffic dulls it.
Can a burnished floor be refreshed?: Yes. Where traffic wears the sheen, the floor can be cleaned and burnished again.