What can we help you with?
Technical flooring, delivered directly
- ESD flooring, urethane cement, terrazzo, and polished concrete
- In-house W-2 installation crews and experienced field leadership
- National service coverage with project-specific staffing plans
- Testing, documentation, and defined project closeout
- Dedicated support for corporate procurement and multi-site contracting
Phone: +1 (844) 687-1961
Polished concrete and epoxy at a glance
Polished concrete turns the concrete slab into the finished floor. Epoxy adds a bonded flooring system over the slab, with color, texture and protective layers selected for the room. The right choice depends on the slab’s condition, the work performed on the floor and the appearance you want to maintain.
Craftsman Concrete installs both. We assess the concrete, review the facility’s operating requirements and compare complete installations, including preparation, repairs, moisture treatment and return to service. Our resinous flooring work uses Sika, Sherwin-Williams and Protective Industrial Polymers systems; our polished-concrete work uses PROSOCO and Ameripolish treatments.
| Consideration | Polished concrete | Epoxy flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Finished surface | Mechanically refined concrete with densification and the selected protective treatment | A bonded resinous system over prepared concrete |
| Appearance | Shows the slab, aggregate, repairs and existing variation | Pigmented systems cover visual variation and provide selected colors and textures |
| Slab condition | Affects both the work required and the finished appearance | Affects preparation, repairs and the system’s suitability |
| Chemical exposure | Stain protection has limits; select treatment for the expected exposure | Select the complete system for the chemicals, concentrations and contact conditions |
| Return to service | Includes grinding, polishing, repairs and treatment restrictions | Includes preparation, application and curing of the complete system |
| Maintenance | Cleaning, renewal of stain protection and restoration of worn areas | Cleaning, local repairs and renewal of the topcoat or wearing surface |
What is being installed?
Polished concrete
Mechanical polishing refines the concrete itself. Densification and stain protection complete the selected finish. Depending on the treatment, polished concrete can have a topical protective layer or a penetrating stain repellent.
The slab remains part of the finished appearance. Aggregate variation, patches and marks from previous flooring can remain visible after polishing.
Epoxy flooring
“Epoxy flooring” covers several different systems. Thin-film epoxy with a polyurethane topcoat differs from a multilayer build, quartz broadcast, decorative flake or ESD system.
Compare the complete installation: preparation, primer, any body or broadcast layers, and the topcoat. A polyurethane or polyaspartic topcoat alone does not describe the underlying floor.
Where urethane cement fits
Urethane cement is a separate resinous flooring category made with polyurethane, cement and aggregate. For wet processing, washdown and thermal exposure, Craftsman evaluates it alongside epoxy rather than treating all resinous floors as interchangeable.
Our urethane cement flooring service explains where these systems fit.
How do installation costs compare?
Compare both options for the same area and operating requirements. Include the preparation, removal, repairs, finish and access arrangements each installation needs.
The following approximate epoxy ranges come from Craftsman’s historical commercial quotes within the 2023–2026 review period. They include the named flooring system and its documented routine preparation.
| Flooring system | Approximate historical quoted cost |
|---|---|
| Thin-film epoxy with polyurethane topcoat | $3.50–$11.25 per square foot |
| Multilayer epoxy with polyurethane topcoat | $3.25–$10.50 per square foot |
Removal, concrete repairs, moisture mitigation, coves, joints, testing and other separately priced work are additional. These are historical quoted ranges across different projects, not a price schedule by floor area or a guarantee of current pricing.
For polished concrete, our published guide includes a 5,000-square-foot salt-and-pepper installation starting at $3.50 per square foot. That is a specific starting-price example, not a general price for every slab or finish. The polished concrete cost guide explains the main cost drivers.
Extensive repairs or adhesive removal can change the economics of polishing. Moisture treatment, additional coating layers and detailed coves or transitions can change the resinous flooring budget. Neither option is always the cheaper installation.
Slab condition and finished appearance
Polishing reveals the concrete that is there. Patches, old partitions, cracks, aggregate variation and previous contamination can remain visible. Craftsman uses an on-site sample to establish the achievable appearance before processing the full floor.
A pigmented epoxy system can cover discoloration and visual variation, but it still needs sound, properly prepared concrete. Cracks, joints and damaged areas require appropriate treatment before the coating is installed.
Choose polished concrete when the exposed slab’s appearance works for the project. Consider a pigmented resinous system when a more uniform color or a selected decorative finish is part of the brief.
Moisture and substrate preparation
Craftsman evaluates moisture conditions against the requirements of the selected flooring system. High internal slab humidity and a wet surface are different conditions; a system’s allowance for one does not establish suitability for the other.
Primer is required for our epoxy installations. Where moisture treatment is needed, an approved moisture-vapor-barrier primer replaces the standard primer as part of the selected system.
Polishing also requires a suitable substrate. The selected densifier and protective treatment have their own application requirements, and moisture conditions still need to be investigated.
Chemicals, washdown and slip resistance
Chemical exposure
Give Craftsman the chemicals used in each room, their concentrations, operating temperatures and likely contact times. We compare those conditions with the selected system’s chemical-resistance guidance.
A stain-protection treatment on polished concrete serves a different purpose from a chemical-resistant resinous system. For process rooms, the actual exposure should determine the selection.
Wet processing and washdown
For kitchens, food processing and other wet rooms, the flooring decision includes coves, drains, cleaning methods and thermal exposure. Craftsman reviews these requirements with the project team and evaluates urethane cement where the operating conditions warrant it.
Slip resistance
Select the finish and texture for the expected water, oils, contaminants, footwear and cleaning process. Gloss, decorative flake and quartz aggregate alone do not establish slip performance.
Compare results from the same test method under relevant conditions. Results from different slip-test scales are not interchangeable.
Installation time and return to service
Craftsman plans the installation around work zones, access and the facility’s shutdown window. The schedule includes preparation, repairs, application and release of the completed floor.
For epoxy, temperature and the selected coats affect curing. Permission for foot traffic may come before permission for equipment, chemical exposure or full operation.
Polished concrete also has treatment restrictions after grinding and polishing. For example, PROSOCO LSGuard permits traffic within one hour of final burnishing under typical conditions but requires protection from water for 24 hours. Those times apply to that treatment after the polishing work, not to the entire installation. PROSOCO LSGuard data sheet
Agree on return-to-service requirements before installation begins, including when people, equipment, cleaning and normal operations can resume.
Maintenance and long-term wear
Both floors need routine cleaning and prompt spill removal. Craftsman provides care instructions for the installed system as part of closeout documentation.
Polished-concrete maintenance may include renewing stain protection or restoring the finish in traffic lanes. Epoxy maintenance may include local repairs and renewal of the topcoat or wearing surface.
If high-traffic areas become dull or show wear, contact Craftsman before applying a new treatment. We can review the installed system and recommend an appropriate maintenance or restoration approach.
Choosing the floor for your facility
Start with the operation in each room. Identify traffic and wheel types, chemicals, washdown, static-control needs, appearance expectations and available work windows. Then compare the slab condition and the complete installation each option requires.
One facility can use polished concrete in some areas and epoxy or urethane cement in others. Each room’s requirements should drive its flooring selection.
Craftsman can review your plans and operating requirements for polished concrete installation and resinous flooring. Contact Craftsman with the project location, approximate area, photographs or drawings, intended use and available work windows.
Project Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Craftsman installs both and compares the slab condition, appearance, traffic, chemical exposure, cleaning requirements and available installation window. We evaluate the complete installation, including preparation and repairs, rather than comparing finish prices alone.
It can be, but the slab and scope determine the comparison. Extensive removal, repairs or deeper grinding can increase polishing costs. Moisture treatment, additional layers and detailed coves or transitions can increase epoxy costs. Compare proposals for the same area and operating requirements.
There is no single lifespan for either category. Traffic, chemicals, physical damage and maintenance affect both. Polished concrete may need renewed stain protection or finish restoration; epoxy may need local repairs or renewal of its wearing surface.
The answer depends on the preparation, repairs, selected products and site conditions. Epoxy curing varies with temperature and the complete coating system. Polished-concrete treatments can also restrict traffic or water exposure after polishing. Plan around the time needed for normal operations, not just the earliest permitted foot traffic.
Some systems accommodate high internal slab humidity or use a specified moisture-vapor-barrier primer. Craftsman evaluates test results against the complete system’s requirements. High internal humidity does not mean a coating can be applied to a wet or contaminated surface.
Neither name alone answers the question. The installed finish, contaminants, footwear and cleaning conditions determine the comparison. Select the finish using the project’s applicable test method and acceptance criteria.
Often, if the concrete is suitable after removal. Craftsman evaluates damage, staining, repairs and the appearance grinding will expose. A trial area helps establish whether the finished result meets the project’s expectations.
No. Urethane cement is a distinct polyurethane, cement and aggregate system. Craftsman evaluates it separately for washdown, thermal exposure and process areas.
Polished Concrete Knowledge Center
Resource links
Performance & Safety
Design & Aesthetics
Installation Guidance
Economics & Sustainability
Maintenance & Aftercare
Comparative & Decision-Making
Blog
Craftsman Publishes 2026–2027 ESD Flooring Technical Guide
ESD Epoxy Flooring Case Study: 34,000 SF Dallas, TX
