In a store or showroom, the floor is part of the brand. It also takes shopping carts, pallet jacks, salt in winter and thousands of customers. Polished concrete and epoxy are the two most popular choices for retail spaces. Here is how they compare.
Polished concrete
Look: a natural, modern stone-like finish, from satin to high gloss, with options to expose the aggregate.
Durability: there is no coating to peel or chip. The slab itself is ground, densified and polished.
Maintenance: dust mopping, neutral cleaner and occasional burnishing. No waxing or stripping.
Cost: from $2.50 per sq ft with Hardbond, often the lowest lifetime cost for large floors.
Limits: the result depends on the existing slab. Old patches, cracks and stains will show, and it is more porous to oil and acid spills.
Epoxy
Look: any solid colour, a brand colour, flake blends or a decorative metallic finish. It hides a patchy slab completely.
Durability: a tough, seamless coating. A urethane or polyaspartic topcoat adds scratch and UV resistance.
Maintenance: easy to clean and highly stain resistant. Busy lanes may need a fresh topcoat after several years.
Cost: from $2.75 per sq ft with Hardbond, higher for flake and metallic finishes.
Limits: it can be scratched by dragged fixtures, and a damaged area needs a repair rather than a buff.
Which fits your store?
Choose polished concrete for large-format retail, grocery, warehouse-style stores and modern minimalist brands, especially on a slab in good condition.
Choose epoxy for brand colours, showrooms and dealerships that want a deep gloss, stores with a damaged or patched slab, and spaces with oil or chemical spills.
Choose metallic epoxy for boutiques, salons and showrooms where the floor is a design feature.
Plan around opening hours
Both floors can be installed in phases, overnight by arrangement or on weekends so the store stays open. Fixtures are moved and replaced section by section.
Get a recommendation for your space
Hardbond installs polished concrete, epoxy and metallic floors for retail stores, showrooms and dealerships across Toronto and the GTA. Book a free site assessment and we will tell you honestly which floor fits your slab, brand and budget.
