What Is Honed Concrete? Finishes, Uses and How It Compares

Honed concrete is a concrete floor finish produced by grinding the surface with progressively finer diamond tooling. The result is a smooth, matte-to-satin surface that shows the natural character of the concrete without the high-gloss reflective sheen of a fully polished floor.

It's one of the most popular finishes for new builds, renovations, and outdoor areas across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Northern Rivers — and for good reason. Honed concrete is durable, low-maintenance, slip-resistant, and looks good in almost any setting.

This guide covers what honed concrete is, how it's done, how it compares to polished concrete, and where it works best.

How Honed Concrete Is Made

Honed concrete starts with a standard concrete slab — either a new pour or an existing floor. The surface is mechanically ground using planetary grinding machines fitted with diamond-segmented tooling.

The process works through progressively finer grits. Coarse diamonds remove the top layer of cement paste and expose the aggregate beneath. Finer grits smooth the surface to the desired level of sheen. For a honed finish, grinding typically stops at around 200–400 grit — producing a smooth, low-lustre surface without the mirror-like reflection of a full polish (which goes to 800–3000 grit).

After grinding, the floor is sealed. The sealer protects against staining and moisture while preserving the natural look of the concrete. For outdoor areas like pool surrounds, a non-slip sealer is used to maintain grip when wet.

The whole process is done dust-free using industrial vacuum extraction connected directly to the grinding equipment. This captures silica dust at the source and keeps the site clean — important for occupied homes and active building sites.

Honed Concrete Finishes and Colours

The appearance of honed concrete depends on three things: the depth of grind, the aggregate in the slab, and the cement mix.

Cream Hone (Light Grind)

A light grind removes just the surface layer of cement paste. The result is a clean, smooth floor with minimal aggregate exposure — a subtle cream or grey tone depending on the cement colour. This is the most affordable honed finish and works well in modern interiors where you want a clean, understated look.

Salt-and-Pepper (Medium Grind)

A medium grind exposes the fine aggregate in the concrete, creating a speckled "salt-and-pepper" appearance. This is the most popular honed finish for residential floors. It has more visual texture than a cream hone while still looking refined.

Exposed Aggregate (Deep Grind)

A deep grind reveals the larger stones in the concrete mix. The look depends entirely on the aggregate — natural river pebbles, crushed granite, quartz, or decorative stones all produce different results. Exposed aggregate honed concrete is popular for outdoor areas, driveways, and feature floors.

The colour palette ranges from light cream and sandy tones through to darker greys and charcoal, depending on the aggregate. If you're pouring a new slab, you can specify the aggregate mix to achieve a particular look. For existing slabs, a test grind reveals exactly what the finished result will look like before committing to the full job.

Where to Use Honed Concrete

Honed concrete works across a wide range of applications. Here are the most common.

Indoor Living Areas

Open-plan living rooms, kitchens, hallways, and dining areas. Honed concrete creates a seamless floor plane throughout the house — no grout lines, no tile joints, no transitions between rooms. It stays cool underfoot in summer (a genuine advantage in Gold Coast and Brisbane homes) and works with underfloor heating in cooler climates.

Pool Surrounds

Honed concrete is one of the best finishes for pool surrounds. The low-sheen surface provides natural slip resistance, it handles pool chemicals and constant water exposure without deteriorating, and it stays cooler underfoot than tiles or dark pavers. A non-slip sealer adds an extra layer of grip for wet areas.

Driveways

Honed concrete driveways are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to exposed aggregate or plain concrete. They're durable enough to handle vehicle traffic, easy to maintain (no weeds growing between pavers), and look significantly more refined than a standard broom-finished driveway.

Patios and Alfresco Areas

Outdoor entertaining areas, verandahs, and covered patios. Honed concrete handles weather, UV exposure, and heavy foot traffic without cracking or fading. It also creates a clean visual connection between indoor and outdoor spaces when the same finish runs through both.

Commercial Spaces

Retail stores, restaurants, office lobbies, apartment common areas, and commercial fitouts. Honed concrete is low-maintenance, handles heavy foot traffic, and produces a contemporary finish without the upkeep of high-gloss polishing. Our commercial concrete honing uses the same process at larger scale.

Honed Concrete vs Polished Concrete

This is one of the most common questions we get. The difference comes down to the level of grind and the resulting sheen.

Honed concrete is ground to around 200–400 grit, producing a smooth, matte-to-satin finish. It looks natural and understated, has good slip resistance thanks to the slight texture retained from grinding, and only needs a sweep and mop to maintain. It's the go-to for outdoor areas, modern interiors, and pool surrounds.

Polished concrete goes further — typically to 800–3000 grit — producing a high-gloss, reflective surface. It has a mirror-like, sleek appearance and suits commercial showrooms, open-plan living areas, and feature floors. Maintenance is similar but may include periodic re-polishing to maintain the gloss.

Neither is "better" — it depends on the look you want and how the space will be used. Honed concrete is often the better choice for outdoor areas and homes with kids and pets because of its superior grip. Polished concrete suits spaces where you want maximum visual impact and reflective light.

For a detailed comparison with tiles, see our article on polished concrete vs tiles.

What Affects the Cost of Honed Concrete?

The cost of honed concrete varies depending on a number of factors specific to your project. No two slabs are the same, so accurate pricing requires an inspection. Here's what influences the final quote:

• Level of honing — a light cream hone requires fewer passes than a deep exposed aggregate finish
• Slab condition — existing coatings, adhesive residue, or uneven joints may need additional preparation before honing can begin
• Area size — larger areas tend to be more cost-effective per square metre
• Access — tight spaces, stairs, and multi-level sites take longer than open ground-floor slabs
• Sealer type — the sealer you choose affects both the final look and the overall cost

For existing homes with tiles down, factor in tile and adhesive removal before the honing work begins. ICGC handles the full sequence — tile removal, adhesive cleanup, grinding, and honing — as a single job, so you're dealing with one trade instead of three.

The best way to get an accurate price is to request a free quote. We inspect the slab, discuss the finish you're after, and provide a written quote with no hidden costs.

Is Honed Concrete Slippery?

No. Honed concrete has more grip than fully polished concrete because it retains slight texture from the grinding process. For outdoor areas — pool surrounds, driveways, patios — honed finishes provide good slip resistance, especially when sealed with a non-slip sealer.

It is significantly less slippery than polished tiles or fully polished concrete around wet areas. We can advise on the best finish and sealer combination for your specific application.

How Long Does Honed Concrete Last?

A properly honed and sealed concrete floor can last decades with minimal maintenance. Concrete is one of the most durable building materials there is — honing simply refines the surface rather than adding a layer on top that can wear away.

Maintenance is straightforward: sweep regularly and damp mop as needed. Re-seal every few years depending on traffic and exposure. No grout to scrub, no tiles to replace, no joints to re-point.

Can You Hone an Existing Concrete Floor?

Yes. Honing works on both new slabs and existing concrete. If your existing floor has tiles, coatings, paint, or adhesive residue, these need to be removed first — and the slab ground clean before honing begins.

This is where ICGC's single-source approach matters. Most concrete grinding operators don't offer tile removal. Some subcontract it. We handle the complete sequence in-house: tile removal, adhesive cleanup, slab repair, grinding, honing, and sealing. One team, one quote, one point of accountability.

Choosing a Honed Concrete Contractor

Not all concrete grinding operators produce the same quality of honed finish. The result depends on the operator's experience reading the slab — understanding aggregate exposure, hardness, moisture content, and pour quality before selecting the right diamond tooling and pass sequence.

Things to look for:

• Commercial-grade equipment — planetary grinders with dust extraction, not hand-held angle grinders
• Dust-free process — industrial HEPA vacuum extraction, not sweeping up afterwards
• Full service — tile removal, surface prep, grinding, honing, and sealing from a single team
• Written quotes — fixed pricing after slab inspection, no hidden costs
• Experience with your application — pool surrounds require different sealer knowledge than indoor living areas

ICGC works with builders, developers, and homeowners across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Northern Rivers. We use Husqvarna planetary grinding equipment with integrated dust extraction and handle the complete job from raw slab to finished surface.

Get a Quote for Honed Concrete

Whether you're building new, renovating, or considering honed concrete for a pool surround, driveway, or patio — get in touch for a free quote. We inspect the slab, show you finish options, and provide a written quote with no hidden costs. We typically respond same day.