# Honed Concrete Floors > Honed concrete is a cured concrete slab ground with diamond tooling to a smooth matte or satin finish and then sealed, stopping short of the high-gloss stage that defines polished concrete. - **Provider:** Industrial Concrete Grinding and Cutting PTY LTD (ICGC) - **Page:** https://icgc.com.au/honed-concrete/ - **Service area:** Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern Rivers, Australia - **Phone:** 0408 709 770 ## Key facts - Honed concrete is ground to roughly 200 grit for a light hone and 400 grit for a medium hone. - Honed concrete does not use a densifier. Polished concrete does. - Honing exposes salt-and-pepper through to full aggregate depending on grind depth. - Honed concrete is UV-stable and retains texture for grip, so it works outdoors on driveways, patios and pool surrounds as well as indoors. - Honed concrete sits between burnished (lighter grind, cream only) and polished (finer grits, high gloss). ## Honed concrete finish options - Light hone at 200 grit: smooths the surface with minimal aggregate exposure, cement paste remains dominant. - Medium hone at 400 grit: satin-smooth with fine aggregate showing through. The most commonly specified honed finish. - Heavy hone: ground deeper to reveal stone and aggregate, finished matte rather than glossy. - Outdoor hone and seal: ground to a slip-resistant texture and sealed with a UV-stable, breathable sealer for Queensland conditions. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is your concrete grinding process dust-free? Standard grinding produces significant silica dust. We use portable industrial vacuum extraction connected directly to our grinding machinery, capturing dust at the source. This keeps the site cleaner, protects everyone's health, and makes us suitable for occupied or partially occupied buildings including apartments, retail tenancies, and healthcare facilities. ### Can I stay in my home or keep my business operating while you work? In most cases, yes. Our dust-free grinding process uses industrial HEPA extraction connected directly to the machinery, so there is minimal dust and disruption. We protect surrounding rooms and furniture before we start. Most homeowners carry on as normal in other parts of the house while we work, and commercial clients can often keep adjacent areas operating. ### What is honed concrete? Honed concrete is a concrete floor finish produced by grinding the surface with diamond tooling to create a smooth, matte-to-satin appearance. Unlike full polished concrete, honed concrete has a lower sheen and a more natural, understated look. It can expose varying levels of aggregate depending on how deep the grinding goes, from a clean cream finish to exposed stone. Honed concrete is popular for living areas, pool surrounds, driveways, and patios across Gold Coast and Brisbane homes. ### What is the difference between honed and polished concrete? Honed concrete is ground to a smooth, low-sheen finish using diamond tooling up to around 200 to 400 grit. Polished concrete goes further, typically to 800 to 3000 grit, producing a high-gloss reflective surface. Honed finishes look more natural and understated, while polished concrete has a mirror-like sheen. Both are durable and low-maintenance. Honed concrete is often chosen for outdoor areas and modern interiors, while polished suits commercial spaces and high-end open-plan living. ### Is honed concrete slippery? Honed concrete has more grip than fully polished concrete because it retains a slight texture from the grinding process. For outdoor areas like pool surrounds, driveways, and patios, honed finishes provide good slip resistance, especially when sealed with a non-slip sealer. It is significantly less slippery than polished tiles or polished concrete around wet areas. We can advise on the best finish and sealer combination for your specific application. ### What colours and finishes are available with honed concrete? The colour of honed concrete depends on the aggregate and cement mix in your slab. Common finishes include cream honed (minimal aggregate exposure), salt and pepper (fine aggregate visible), and full exposed aggregate (larger stones revealed). Colours range from light cream and sandy tones through to darker greys, depending on the aggregate. We can do a test grind on your slab to show you exactly what the finished result will look like before committing to the full job. ### How much does honed concrete cost? The cost of honed concrete depends on several factors: the level of honing (a light cream hone vs a deep exposed aggregate finish), the condition of the slab, the area size, and whether any tile removal or surface preparation is needed first. Larger areas are more cost-effective per square metre. Every slab is different, so we inspect yours and provide a written quote with no hidden costs. ### Can you hone concrete around a pool? Yes. Honed concrete is one of the most popular finishes for pool surrounds on the Gold Coast. It provides a smooth, slip-resistant surface that stays cooler underfoot than tiles or pavers and handles pool chemicals and weather without deteriorating. We hone pool surrounds, coping, and surrounding patio areas as part of the same job. ### How long does honed concrete last? The honed surface is permanent because it is the concrete itself, not a coating applied on top. With periodic re-sealing every 3 to 5 years (a simple maintenance task), a honed floor will outlast the building. ### Can you hone existing concrete? Yes. Most existing slabs can be honed, including those with old coatings, adhesive residue, or surface damage. We assess the slab condition first and advise on the best approach. Older slabs often produce the most interesting finishes because the aggregate has fully cured and developed character over time. ### Is honed concrete cold underfoot? Concrete is naturally thermal and absorbs and retains heat. In Queensland's climate, honed concrete stays cool in summer and can be paired with underfloor heating for winter comfort. Most Gold Coast and Brisbane homes find honed concrete comfortable year-round. ### How do you maintain honed concrete? Sweep regularly and mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. That is it. No waxing, no stripping, no grout cleaning. Re-seal every 3 to 5 years depending on traffic. ### Do you remove tiles as well as grind concrete? Yes. We remove tiles and mechanically grind off all adhesive residue until the slab is genuinely clean and ready for the next finish. That is the difference between a surface that is stripped and one that is actually ready for tiling, polishing, honing, epoxy, vinyl, or timber. Most concrete grinders do not offer tile removal. We do. ### Can you grind or hone a concrete driveway? Yes. Driveways are one of the most common outdoor jobs we take on. We grind the slab to the level of stone exposure you want, then seal it with a protective coating that stands up to daily driving, tyre marks, oil, and weather. A non-slip additive keeps the surface safe in the wet. We hone both new pours and existing driveways, so an older driveway can be redone without replacing the slab. Driveway honing is available across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Northern Rivers. ### What is the difference between honed and burnished concrete? Both are ground and sealed with a matte to low-sheen result. The difference is how deep the grind goes. Burnished stops at the cream layer so almost no stone is exposed and the floor reads as a smooth, even surface. Honed goes deeper and brings up salt-and-pepper or fuller aggregate, so you see the stone in the slab. If you want the concrete to look uniform, go burnished. If you want to see the aggregate, go honed. ## Related pages - [Polished Concrete Floors](https://icgc.com.au/polished-concrete/): Mechanically polished floors. Cream polish through to full aggregate reveal, densifier process. - [Burnished Concrete Floors](https://icgc.com.au/burnished-concrete/): Cream-level ground and sealed finish. Comparison against honed and polished, cost drivers, limitations. - [Concrete Honing, Gold Coast](https://icgc.com.au/honed-concrete-gold-coast/): Gold Coast coverage for honed concrete. - [Concrete Honing, Brisbane](https://icgc.com.au/honed-concrete-brisbane/): Brisbane coverage for honed concrete. ## Contact - Phone: 0408 709 770 - Email: admin@icgc.com.au - Request a quote: https://icgc.com.au/get-a-quote/ - Based in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, serving Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern Rivers, Australia