What the All-In Price of SAR 40–50/m² Actually Covers
Concrete surface quotes are frequently incomplete. This is exactly what our price includes and what changes it.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Concrete supply and pour | Included |
| Steel reinforcement | Included |
| Formwork and bay preparation | Included |
| Coarse diamond grinding | Included |
| Lithium silicate densifier | Included |
| Progressive fine grinding to finish level | Included |
| Surface guard or sealer | Included |
| What changes the price | Area size, slab thickness, access, finish level |
Three Finish Levels. One Decision Made Before Grinding Starts.
Concrete finishing is not one look — it is a spectrum controlled by the depth of the initial grind. Cream finish: the grinder barely breaks the surface, leaving a smooth grey floor with almost no aggregate visible. The most uniform, flat result. Salt and pepper: slightly deeper, exposing fine sand and small stones near the top of the slab. Natural variation begins to appear. Full aggregate exposure: deep enough to reveal large stones within the concrete mix. The most dramatic and individual appearance.
This decision is irreversible once grinding begins. We produce physical sample panels — actual pieces of concrete ground to each level — before any machine starts. You confirm the finish in person, on a real sample, in your space. The signed sample panel is kept on file as the reference standard for the installation. No client should be deciding on a finish level from a photograph.
Beyond finish level, concrete surface systems are defined by what happens after the grind. Lithium silicate densifier penetrates 4–5mm into the slab and reacts with calcium hydroxide to form Calcium Silicate Hydrate crystals permanently inside the concrete. These crystals harden the surface, eliminate dust generation, and create the base the polish requires. Without densification, ground concrete dusts and degrades over time regardless of the finish. With it, the surface remains structurally sound for decades.
How We Work With Every Concrete Surface
Whether grinding an existing slab or pouring a new one, the sequence follows the same structural logic. Each stage has a checkpoint that must be passed before the next begins.
Slab Assessment — Polish Existing or Pour New?
For existing concrete slabs, we assess structural condition, measure surface flatness, and test compressive strength. Slabs with significant variance — more than 5mm per 3 metres — require corrective grinding before the finish grinding sequence begins. Slabs that are structurally sound and reasonably flat can be finished directly. Slabs with heaving, major cracking, or insufficient thickness may require a topping pour before finishing. This assessment is completed and the recommendation documented before any work is authorised.
Coarse Grind — Establishing the Surface Profile and Finish Level
Every concrete slab has a laitance layer — the weak surface formed by water and fine cement rising to the top during the pour. We remove this entirely with coarse diamond segments. This exposes structural concrete, establishes the aggregate visibility level chosen by the client, and creates the mechanical profile the densifier requires to penetrate. The finish level — cream, salt and pepper, or full exposure — is set at this stage and cannot be modified afterwards.
Lithium Silicate Densifier — Making Concrete Permanently Harder
Applied while the surface is open from grinding, the lithium silicate penetrates 4–5mm into the concrete's capillary network. Lithium ions react with calcium hydroxide — a natural concrete by-product — to form Calcium Silicate Hydrate crystals inside the slab. These crystals fill the pore structure, permanently harden the surface, and eliminate the concrete dusting that occurs on untreated slabs. The reaction is irreversible: the crystals do not wash out, wear off, or degrade.
Progressive Fine Grinding — Building the Finish
After densification, we work through diamond pads at 400, 800, and 1500 grit progressively. Each pass removes the scratch pattern left by the previous grit. By 1500 grit, the surface has natural reflective quality. Whether we stop here or continue depends on the specified finish level: a warm matte result stops earlier; a high-reflectivity commercial finish continues to 3000 grit. The finish is built progressively — it cannot be rushed without visible consequences.
Surface Guard Application and Handover
The final application is a penetrating surface guard — oleophobic treatment for surfaces where appearance must be preserved without changing it, or polyurethane sealer for higher exposure environments. After cure, we conduct a final inspection against the approved sample panel, confirm the finish matches the authorised level, and hand over with written care instructions. The maintenance schedule is specific to the surface type and environment — not generic.
Concrete Surfaces vs. Microcement, Porcelain Tile, and Epoxy
| Feature | ★ Our StandardMicrocement | Large-Format Porcelain Tile | Epoxy Flooring |
|---|---|---|---|
Applies over existing surfaces without demolition | ✓ Yes — bonds directly over existing tiles, screed, or concrete without removal | No — existing floor must be removed before installation | Yes — but the existing surface requires profiling and moisture testing |
Cost — Concrete: SAR 40–50/m² all-in | ✓ SAR 80–130/m² — higher cost but works on walls, bathrooms, and directly over tiles | SAR 45–120/m² — wide range based on tile format and source | SAR 30–35/m² — lower cost for standard solid-colour systems |
Natural material character — appearance develops over time | ✓ Controlled mineral finish — refined rather than raw character | Uniform factory pattern — no variation or development | High-gloss or matte synthetic finish — no natural material character |
Temperature underfoot — cool in Saudi conditions | ✓ Neutral to slightly warm — polymer content reduces cold conductivity | Cold underfoot — ceramic conducts slab temperature directly | Neutral — epoxy sits at ambient room temperature |
Service life without replacement | ✓ 15–20 years before sealer recoat — surface itself does not wear out | 15–25 years before grout failure and surface scratching require attention | 10–15 years for topcoat — base system bond is essentially permanent |
The right surface depends on what the space needs to do. This comparison identifies where concrete wins and where another system is the better answer.
SAR 40–50
Per m² All-In
Concrete, reinforcement, densifier, sealer
3 Levels
Finish Options
Cream, salt and pepper, full aggregate
30+ Years
Expected Service Life
With correct densification and maintenance
6–8°C
Cooler Than Tile
Measured surface temperature in Saudi summer conditions
Practical Answers
These describe how deep the initial grind goes and how much of the slab's internal structure is revealed. Cream finish: the grinder barely breaks the surface — the result is smooth, uniform grey concrete with almost no aggregate visible. Salt and pepper: medium depth grind, fine sand and small stones appear — the surface shows natural variation. Full aggregate exposure: deep grind, large stones are fully revealed — the most individual and dramatic appearance. The choice is made before grinding starts and confirmed on a physical sample panel. It cannot be changed once the machine runs.
Everything required to deliver a finished, sealed concrete surface: concrete supply and pour, steel reinforcement appropriate to the load class, formwork for new pours, coarse diamond grinding to remove laitance, lithium silicate densifier applied in three passes, progressive fine grinding to the chosen finish level, and the surface guard or sealer. There are no separate material or equipment charges. The variation within that range is driven by area size — larger areas cost less per m² due to mobilisation efficiency — slab thickness required, and access constraints.
At high gloss levels and when wet, a concrete surface has reduced slip resistance compared to a textured floor. We address this by incorporating anti-slip aggregate into the final surface treatment for any area where wet conditions are expected. The aggregate improves grip without visibly altering the appearance. We also use oleophobic surface guards that cause water to bead and shed rather than film — which reduces the wet slip condition significantly. Anti-slip specification is standard for outdoor surfaces and any wet environment.
When we pour a new concrete slab, the concrete requires approximately 7 days to reach sufficient compressive strength before grinding begins. Grinding on under-cured concrete damages the surface structure and can introduce cracking. After the cure wait, the grinding and densification sequence takes 3–5 days depending on area. When we are finishing an existing slab that is structurally sound, there is no cure wait — the process begins immediately and completes in 5–7 days.
Yes, with the correct anti-slip aggregate and sealer specification. We install concrete in wet environments regularly and the results are excellent when the system is correctly specified for that exposure. The surface guard or polyurethane sealer must be selected for the moisture level of the environment. Anti-slip aggregate is worked into the surface for any zone that will be regularly wet. The specific sub-page for your application environment provides the complete specification for that context.
We Bring Sample Panels to Every Site Visit.
You see cream, salt and pepper, and full aggregate exposure on actual concrete samples in your space — not on a screen. We then give you a fixed all-in price. We cover all of Saudi Arabia.