Comparison
Compare Your Flooring Options
Polished Concrete VS. Everything Else
Decorative polished concrete offers a number of advantages that other flooring materials can't match, particularly when it comes to durability, performance and sustainability. Here, we compare polished concrete floors with some of the alternatives.
| Flooring Options | Wall-to-wall carpet | Ceramic tile | Vinyl or linoleum | Wood or wood laminate | Natural stone (such as slate or marble) | Polished concrete |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available in a wide spectrum of design options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited |
| See Options with Polishing Concrete Floors | ||||||
| Longevity and performance | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Durability and Resource Conservation | ||||||
| Ease of maintenance | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Maintaining the Shine | (needs frequent vacuuming; stains easily) | (linoleum may need occasional waxing) | (linoleum may need occasional waxing) | |||
| Can radiate heat and store solar energy | No | No | No | No | Yes, | Yes |
| Radiant Floor Heating Systems | depending on the material | |||||
| Vulnerable to humidity and moisture damage | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Can harbor mold, mildew, dust mites and other allergens | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Easier Breathing | (mold and mildew, if the flooring becomes wet) | |||||
| Is a sustainable flooring alternative | No | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Yes | Yes |
| Project Profile: School Goes Green with Polished Concrete | (if using linoleum made from all natural materials) | (if made from reclaimed or FSC-certifiedwood) | ||||
| Average cost per square foot installed | $3.38 - 6.61* | $11 - 22* | $2.64 - 5.64* | $8 - 10 | $20 - 50+ | $3 - 7 |
| Polished concrete cost | (for a 3,000-grit finish and the use of a penetrating sealer) | |||||
| Average lifecycle cost | High | Low | Intermediate | Intermediate | Low | Extremely Low |
*Source: Old House Web
