---
title: "What Would Bob Do? Polishing a Concrete Floor"
description: "Sleek, shiny, and easy to maintain, polished concrete is a great flooring choice, particularly for modern interiors. If you'd like to create this look in your own home, here are the basics on how to polish concrete."
date: "2014-04-07"
modified: "2020-12-28"
authors:
  - name: "Bob Vila"
    job_title: "Founder"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-vila.md"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-polish-concrete/"
categories:
  - "Basements"
  - "Cleaning & Organizing"
  - "DIY"
  - "Flooring"
  - "Interior"
tags:
  - "concrete"
---

# What Would Bob Do? Polishing a Concrete Floor

![How to Polish Concrete - Living](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/living.jpg>)
*Photo: kaplanthompson.com*

*I am living in Spain and redoing an old house in the country. I'd like some of the floors to be polished concrete. Can anyone tell me how to do this?*

It's no wonder that homeowners have adopted polished concrete floors. They're quick to install and don't cost a lot. They also wear well and require minimal maintenance. Years ago, you'd see polished concrete only in public spaces—at the mall, say, or in office building lobbies—but nowadays it's a common sight in private residences.

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![How to Polish Concrete - Foyer](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/foyer.jpg>)
*Photo: cromadesign.com*

To polish concrete the do-it-yourself way, you're going to need a concrete grinder. If you can't borrow one from a friend in the trade, you can rent one from your local home improvement center. In addition, you'll have to get your hands on an assortment of grinding discs (in a wide variety of [grits](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2145-quick-tip-choosing-sandpaper.md>), from 30 to 3,000) as well as polishing pads.

Polishing concrete bears some similarities to sanding a hardwood floor. One of the big differences, however, is that with concrete you are going to make many more passes with the grinder than you would with a sander on a wood floor of a similar size. Also, you should expect to spray on a densifier or hardener between passes with the grinder.

Near the end of the polishing process, swap out the grinding disc in favor of a burnishing pad. At this point, you'll notice the floor starting to get really smooth. Before burnishing one last time, put a thin coat of [concrete sealer](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-concrete.md>) over the floor. The result will be a stone-like surface that gleams without the aid of floor waxes or oils.

The best concrete grinders typically include a skirt and a vacuum, both of which are designed to contain dust. Look for a unit that is also equipped with a built-in liquid dispenser. To polish concrete near existing [walls](<https://www.bobvila.com/find-info/#!walls-ceilings?Walls>) without causing damage, it's best to use a specialized edging machine (another tool you can rent from the home center).

Renting a concrete grinder can be a little pricey—as much as $1,000 per week for the grinder itself, plus $250 per week for the edging polisher. That being the case, if you have a small job on your hands the most cost-effective option might be to hire a professional, as counterintuitive as that may seem. I recommend gathering estimates from a few local crews, then comparing those quotes to the amount charged by the tool rental depot.

## Author
Bob Vila is America's Handyman. As a TV host, author, spokesperson, builder and historic preservationist, he has been heavily involved in construction and remodeling for the better part of a half century.

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