Polished concrete on the Sunshine Coast typically lands between $85 and $180 per square metre installed in 2026 — but the honest answer is that every slab writes its own quote. Here's exactly what drives that number, and how to know which finish is right for your floor before you get a single quote back.
The quick answer
For a standard residential polished concrete floor on the Sunshine Coast in 2026, expect $85 – $180 per m² installed. Grind & seal generally runs cheaper ($55 – $110 / m²) because it uses a topical sealer instead of a full mechanical polish. Metallic epoxy is at the top end ($150 – $250 / m²) because every floor is hand-worked.
Those ranges include site prep, diamond grinding, densifying, sealing and clean-up. They do not include large repair work, moisture-mitigation coatings, or difficult access.
2026 price ranges by finish
The table below reflects what Sunshine Coast homeowners are paying this year for a professionally installed floor on a sound slab of average size (60 – 200 m²).
| Finish | Price per m² (installed) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Grind & seal | $55 – $110 | Existing slabs, garages, patios, tight budgets |
| Honed concrete | $75 – $140 | Coastal homes, low-sheen architectural look |
| Polished concrete (mechanical) | $85 – $180 | New builds, forever-floors, high-traffic living areas |
| Epoxy flake | $70 – $130 | Garages, workshops, laundries |
| Metallic epoxy | $150 – $250 | Showrooms, bars, statement entryways |
| Densifying & sealing (existing) | $25 – $55 | Refresh & harden an existing polished floor |
What actually moves the number
Two slabs of the same size can quote a thousand dollars apart. Here's what a good installer is pricing in when they walk your site.
- Slab condition — old, cracked or contaminated slabs need more prep and epoxy fill.
- Aggregate exposure — full aggregate takes more grinding time than a light salt-and-pepper.
- Sheen level — high-gloss requires more polishing passes than matte or satin.
- Square metres — smaller jobs cost more per m² because setup time is the same.
- Access — stairs, tight doorways and upper-storey work slow the crew down.
- Moisture — humid coastal slabs sometimes need a moisture-tolerant primer.
Polished concrete vs grind & seal — which one for you?
Both start with a diamond grinder, but they diverge fast. Polished concrete is a mechanical finish — the shine is the concrete itself, burnished through progressive grits (30, 80, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000) and densified with lithium silicate. Nothing to peel or reapply.
Grind & seal grinds only to expose aggregate, then relies on an acrylic or polyurethane sealer as the wear layer. It's faster, cheaper and gives you gloss on day one — but the sealer will need to be recoated every few years.
Rule of thumb: forever-floor in a new build → polished. Existing slab, rental, garage or tight budget → grind & seal.
How to keep the price honest
- Get quotes in writing, after an on-site slab test — never from a photo.
- Ask for the grit sequence the installer uses. Skipping grits is how cheap polishes fail early.
- Choose satin over high-gloss if budget matters — fewer polishing passes, still beautiful.
- Combine indoor and outdoor areas in one visit to spread the mobilisation fee.
- Book off-peak (autumn / winter) — coastal builders slow down and pricing can soften.
How we quote on the Sunshine Coast
We come to site, moisture-test the slab, walk the space with you and quote in writing within a business day or two. No obligation, no upsell — if grind & seal is the smarter call for your floor, we'll tell you.
Ready to talk about your slab?
A local Sunshine Coast crew, specialist polished-concrete finishers, and a written quote after every site visit.
Frequently asked
- Is polished concrete cheaper than tiles? +
- In most Sunshine Coast homes, polished concrete comes in cheaper than porcelain tile once you factor in tile, adhesive, grout, install labour and future re-grouting. It also lasts decades longer.
- How long does it take to polish a floor? +
- A standard residential polish takes 3 – 6 days on site depending on square metres, slab condition and how much aggregate exposure you're after.
- Do you polish existing concrete? +
- Yes — that's most of what we do. Almost any sound slab can be ground back and polished. We'll test it during the quote so you know exactly what you're getting.
