Choosing a new commercial floor is a big call. It needs to look sharp, clean easily, handle constant traffic and support safety and compliance. For many Melbourne fitouts, the shortlist comes down to two proven options: epoxy flooring and polished concrete.
Polished concrete showcases the character of the slab with a refined, stone-like finish. It delivers long life, high surface hardness and a bright, contemporary look that suits retail and office spaces. Epoxy is a seamless resin system that locks in consistent colour, creates hygiene-friendly surfaces, and offers targeted slip ratings and chemical resistance for back-of-house areas, kitchens, and high-traffic corridors.
In this guide, we compare the two systems from a commercial perspective. You will see where each excels in shops, offices, gyms, childcare and hospitality, and how they stack up for durability, safety, maintenance, downtime, sustainability and total cost of ownership. By the end, you will know whether epoxy, polished concrete or a smart combination is the best fit for your business.
Matching Flooring to Business Type
Different spaces need different solutions. Your choice between epoxy flooring and polished concrete should match how the area is used, the look you want and your maintenance goals.
Retail and Showrooms
Polished concrete reflects natural light to make stores feel larger and brighter. The clean, modern finish highlights products and suits a wide range of fitouts. Epoxy offers brandable colour options and effects. Metallic and flake systems create statement floors that draw attention in premium retail and display spaces.
Cafés and Restaurants
Hygiene and safety come first. Epoxy forms a seamless, non-porous surface that helps stop spills and fats from soaking in, so cleanup is fast and consistent. Food areas can be specified to meet required slip ratings. Polished concrete delivers a stylish, urban look for dining zones. Add the right sealer and anti-slip finish for walkways and service areas. Either flooring choice is a great option for restaurants and cafes.
Gyms and Childcare
Gyms need impact resistance and easy cleaning. Broadcast epoxy systems with texture handle heavy use in weight zones and corridors.
Polished concrete stands up to constant foot traffic and cleans quickly, which is ideal for reception and circulation areas in childcare and education.
Offices and Studios
Polished concrete gives a bright, minimalist aesthetic that clients notice, with straightforward maintenance. Epoxy also works well in utility rooms and BOH spaces, with options to reduce noise and define zones through colour.
Durability and daily wear
Traffic and Loads
Both systems perform in commercial settings. Polished concrete resists wear from daily foot traffic for decades when maintained. Many epoxy systems have high compressive strength ratings, making them a strong choice where trolleys, equipment or occasional heavy loads are common.
Scratches, Chips and Spills
Polished concrete is densified and sealed to improve hardness and scratch resistance. Epoxy’s protective topcoats resist stains and many chemicals, which is helpful in hospitality and the back of house.
Sunlight Exposure
Standard epoxies can yellow in UV. Choose UV-stable formulations in sunny areas. Polished concrete can show slight colour change where direct sun hits; quality sealers and window treatments help maintain a consistent look.
Safety, Hygiene and Environment
VOCs and Air Quality
Polished concrete uses the existing slab and typically involves very low VOC products. Epoxy systems vary by formulation. Low or zero-VOC options are available and should be specified for sensitive sites.
Slip Resistance
Both floors can be finished to meet Australian slip ratings. Kitchens and wet zones commonly target P5 or R12. Texture, flakes and topcoats can be tuned to the space.
Hygiene and Moisture
Epoxy’s seamless surface helps resist moisture and bacteria in food prep and healthcare settings. Polished concrete is hygienic when properly sealed and maintained.
Sustainability
Polished concrete reuses the substrate and minimises new materials. Epoxy is resin-based but can be highly durable, reducing replacement cycles when specified and maintained correctly.
Cost, installation and ROI
Downtime
Epoxy installs quickly in many cases, often within 2 to 3 days, depending on the system and curing times. Polished concrete usually requires multiple grinding and polishing passes, commonly 3 to 6 days, depending on the area and finish level. Staged or after-hours work can keep trading on track.
Upfront and Lifecycle Costs
Indicative guides only: polished concrete from around AUD 76 per m². Epoxy varies widely by system and build, from around AUD 46 to AUD 229 per m². Polished concrete has a long service life with low routine costs. Epoxy can deliver strong value where chemical resistance, colour control or fast installation is the priority.
Repairs and Refresh
Epoxy is straightforward to recoat or repair locally. Polished concrete wear can be restored with maintenance polishing and sealer reapplication.
Branding and Look
Epoxy enables exact colours, safety zones and even logos. Polished concrete offers a timeless architectural finish with chosen aggregate exposure and sheen.
Quick Comparison
|
Factor |
Epoxy flooring |
Polished concrete |
|
Typical install time |
Often 2–3 days |
Often 3–6 days |
|
Expected life |
5–10+ years in busy sites with maintenance |
15–20+ years with maintenance |
|
Customisation |
Wide colour and effects, line marking, logos |
Natural stone look, exposure and sheen choices |
|
Slip resistance |
Tunable with textures and topcoats |
Tunable with densifier, sealer and grit |
|
Best uses |
Kitchens, BOH, gyms, branded retail zones |
Retail floors, lobbies, offices, galleries |
|
Maintenance |
Regular cleaning, periodic recoat |
Routine cleaning, periodic polish and reseal |
What Should Your Business Choose? Epoxy vs Polished Concrete
If you need a branded, seamless surface with chemical and slip control, epoxy is a strong fit. If you want a premium, light-enhancing finish with long life and simple upkeep, polished concrete is hard to beat. Many sites use both for the best of each.
Next step: book a free site visit and free fixed quote. We will assess your slab, timelines and budget, then recommend the right system for your space.