Comparison
Microcement vs polished concrete: what's the difference?
They look similar, but they're not the same thing. Polished concrete is the slab itself, ground and sealed; microcement is a thin coating applied on top of almost anything. Here's how to choose.
The slab itself, or a skin on top.
Polished concrete takes an existing concrete slab and grinds, hones and polishes it to a sheen — so you need a slab worth polishing. Microcement is a thin mineral coating applied over almost any sound surface — concrete, tile, wood, upstairs floors, walls — to give the seamless concrete look wherever you want it, without needing a slab underneath.
At a glance
| Compare | Microcement | Polished concrete |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A thin coating applied on top of a surface | The existing concrete slab, ground and polished |
| Where it works | Almost anywhere — floors, walls, upstairs, over tile | Only where there's a suitable concrete slab |
| The look | Chosen colour and texture; warm, matte to satin | The natural concrete, often with aggregate exposed |
| Thickness | A few millimetres — barely raises the floor | Nothing added — you polish what's there |
| Walls & vertical | Yes — the same finish on walls | Floors only |
| Typical cost | $18–34 / sq ft | $8–18 / sq ft |
Choose microcement when…
- There's no slab to polish — it's an upstairs floor, tile or wood
- You want the concrete look on walls too
- You want a specific colour and a warmer, softer finish
- You want it seamless across different rooms and substrates
Choose polished concrete when…
- You already have a sound concrete slab worth polishing
- You like the raw, natural look with exposed aggregate
- It's a ground-floor or industrial space
- You want the most hard-wearing, lowest-maintenance floor
The short answer
If you have a good slab on the ground floor and love raw concrete, polish it. If you want the concrete look anywhere else — upstairs, on walls, over tile — or a specific colour and a warmer feel, microcement is how you get there. They overlap in look, not in where they can go.
Questions
Concrete look, your way
Tell us about the space and we'll advise honestly — polish the slab you have, or bring the look wherever you want it with microcement.