Service

Grind & Seal Concrete

Tough, practical sealed concrete for garages, workshops, warehouses, and back-of-house commercial. Faster and more affordable than polished concrete, with more colour and finish options.

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Grind-and-seal concrete floor with exposed aggregate and high-gloss topical sealer by Claraseal Melbourne

Quick facts

Grind-and-seal concrete in Melbourne costs $55–$110 per m². The concrete is ground flat with coarse diamond pads (50–200 grit) to clean up the surface and expose aggregate, then a topical sealer — acrylic, polyurethane, or epoxy — is applied. The gloss comes from the sealer, not the concrete itself, so the finish needs re-coating every 5–10 years. It is faster and cheaper than true polished concrete and more colour-flexible, making it the practical choice for garages, workshops, warehouses, and any concrete floor where budget and timeline matter.

What it is

The work, simply.

The concrete slab is ground flat with diamond pads — typically 50 to 200 grit, one or two coarse passes — to clean up the surface and expose aggregate. The ground concrete is then vacuumed, primed, and sealed with a topical coating. The sealer does the work: it sits on the surface and provides the sheen. Sealer options include acrylic (fastest and cheapest), polyurethane (toughest), and epoxy (most chemical-resistant). Colour tints can be added to any sealer for a full custom palette.

Best for

Residential garages and driveways
Workshops and sheds
Warehouses and factories
Commercial back-of-house areas
Retail floors that need re-coating flexibility
Residential basements and laundries
Anywhere budget or timeline matters more than a permanent finish

Our process

How we deliver this.

01

Surface prep

We assess the slab for cracks, contamination, and moisture. Existing coatings, adhesives, or paint are ground off. Cracks and voids are patched with epoxy filler.
02

Diamond grind

The slab is ground with 50–200 grit diamond tooling to open up the surface and expose aggregate. One or two coarse passes. Industrial dust extraction keeps the site clean.
03

Vacuum and clean

Diamond dust and slurry are vacuumed off completely. The surface is neutralised to remove any alkalinity before sealing.
04

Primer coat

A penetrating primer is applied to lock down the concrete and give the sealer a clean bond. This is what separates a long-lasting seal from one that peels in 12 months.
05

Sealer coats

Two or more coats of your chosen sealer — acrylic, polyurethane, or epoxy — are applied. Each coat is allowed to tack off before the next. Colour tints are mixed in at this stage.
06

Cure

Full cure in 24–48 hours for foot traffic, 7 days for vehicles or full load. We give you a firm cure schedule before we leave.

What you get

The result.
Built to last.

Sealed surface that's easy to clean and chemical-resistant
Colour-tintable: any shade available through sealer pigments
Ready for foot traffic within 24–48 hours
5–10 year recoat cycle (re-coating is cheaper than replacement)
Suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial use

Selected work

Grind & Seal: recent jobs.

Grind & Seal Concrete project 1 by Claraseal Melbourne

FAQs

Grind & Seal questions, answered.

How is grind and seal different from polished concrete?

Grind-and-seal grinds the concrete to prepare the surface, then applies a topical sealer for the gloss. True polished concrete is ground through 7 or more grit stages (up to 3000 grit), densified with chemical hardeners, and mechanically burnished — the shine comes from the concrete itself, with no coating. Polished concrete is more durable and needs no re-coating for decades. Grind-and-seal is faster, cheaper, and more colour-flexible, but the sealer will need re-coating every 5–10 years.

How much does grind and seal cost per m²?

Grind-and-seal in Melbourne typically costs $55–$110 per m² depending on slab condition, prep work required, sealer type (acrylic is most affordable, polyurethane most durable), and number of coats. We quote per project after inspecting the slab — pricing over the phone is always approximate.

How long does grind and seal last?

The sealer coat typically lasts 5–10 years depending on traffic, UV exposure, and sealer type. Polyurethane sealers last longer than acrylic. Re-coating when the sealer starts to dull is straightforward and cheaper than a full re-grind. We can re-coat floors we did originally or any existing grind-and-seal floor in sound condition.

Can I drive on a grind-and-seal floor?

Yes. For a polyurethane or epoxy sealer, light vehicles are safe after 48–72 hours and full vehicle loads after 7 days. Acrylic sealers are lighter-duty and best suited to pedestrian traffic or light vehicles only. We specify the right sealer for your intended use before quoting.

Do you grind and seal existing concrete or only new slabs?

Both. Existing concrete is often better — it's already cured and settled, and old coatings, adhesives, or paint get ground off in the prep stage. We grind and seal new slabs, renovation projects, and old warehouse floors alike. The main variable is how much prep work the existing slab needs.

What sealer types do you use?

Acrylic, polyurethane, and epoxy. Acrylic is the most affordable and quickest to apply, suitable for low-to-medium traffic. Polyurethane is our most popular choice — tougher, more UV-stable, and longer-lasting. Epoxy offers the highest chemical resistance and is ideal for workshops, commercial kitchens, and industrial floors. We recommend based on your use case, budget, and preferred finish.

From the journal

Polished concrete vs grind-and-seal: which is right? →

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