Polished concrete floors

[Mydogisagentleman]

I am looking at options for my kitchen and am now considering this.
I have a fair sized kitchen that we are beginning to get sorted out.
Walls painted and electrician booked for the ceiling lights and plug relocation.
Cabinets will be ordered once Wickes have a 50% off sale again.
We were going for ceramic floor tiles, but I have been looking at the polished concrete and would like opinions and pros and cons because I don’t know anyone who has gone with this option

I chickened out and have ordered grey tiles instead. I think it looks really lovely but apparently marks easily, and I couldn't find experienced installer locally.

Not tried in a kitchen but my last office had them and they stained very easily, even though they had been sealed.

We’re building ourselves and are considering this for the whole ground floor. We’re in Germany though where it seems to be more common. I haven’t got much further in my research than gazing at photos on Houzz though.

Are you planning UFH? Even if not, one pro is that it warms to room temperature, similar to plaster, so is pleasant underfoot. I also love the seamless look without any joins. You do need expansion gaps over a large area, but these are planned in, usually in doorways, then filled with matching silicon.

One point our architect made is that people are sometimes a bit surprised by the finish not being quite as they expected. Obviously when you choose a tile, for example, you have a better idea of how the finished work will be. I suppose it’s really important to find somebody who has lots of experience in pouring it.

Another point - you do know it takes 4-6 weeks to dry out, which is ok if it’s a building site, but not if you’re living there! There is a quicker drying option which is more £££.

I like this for example:

www.estrich-sommerfeld.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/bueroraeume_maintal-sichtestrich_versiegelte_oberflaeche-estrich-sommerfeld-2.jpeg

Had it once. It looked beautiful, wore well and destroyed my feet, hips, and lower back. Never again.
Seriously, it is very hard on your body.

@Harriedharriet

I’m very concerned about this. I think they look spectacular, but I have a bad back, hips and knees. What would be a kinder alternative?

I’m thinking of just have some rugs over the areas where I tend to stand.

We have it in the rental we’re currently in. I am surprised to say that I hate it! It marks really easily (it’s a new barn conversion and the finish is excellent, so I’d be surprised if it hadn’t been sealed properly- everything is top notch). Water splashes really mark. I suppose it could look good in a warehouse style conversion but to my mind in a domestic setting it just looks too rough. And ugly.
Sorry OP!

Well, we moved and the reflief on my body was apparent very quickly. We now have wood and are pleased. It is very easy to keep, most rugs and furniture look good on it, and my old bones are grateful. :)