My floor is currently covered in tile and carpet. I am wanting to change the entire house to polished concrete flooring. I do have concrete underneath my floor already . Is it as simple as pulling up the old flooring and getting it polished?

If it is that simple how much would i save if i pulled all of the old flooring up myself?

Thanks for your help!

Simple if you have the right equipment and if your concrete is suitable. Concrete finishes vary greatly so it's a hard call as to how much effort will be needed to make your concrete smooth enough for a finished floor surface. Once it's smooth, it can be stained or painted (staining will last much longer and can make some cool looks too). There are some concrete stains that are DIY friendly but the concrete finishing is best left up to the pros with the right gear.

Hard to put a dollar amount on your savings if you pull up existing carpet but you will save something. Concrete polishing guys would rather not fool with the carpet, pad and remnants of any glue. Biggest variable would be how clean can you get the floor on your own. I would discuss this with whoever you hire to polish the floor to get a better Idea as to how much you can save by doing this part.

Good luck with that idea. If the carpect is glued to the floor there's going to be a ton of work to get it all off, between that and the thin set left behind or old mastic staining is not going to work out.
Go on line and do a Google on Concrete staining and look at the directions to apply.

Why not consider decoupage floors? Over cement slab they are great and eco-green! Why so much better than stained,polished concrete? Paper creates a natural radiant barrier for softer, nice feel on bare feet. Has sound deadening quality, too. No wax ever to keep looking nice and color won't wear off like stained cement. Isn't slippery like polished concrete. Has a sophisticated look, not cold and industrial looking. Can be colored to match your decor, unlike stained cement that may or may NOT turn out like you wanted. (colorants are tricky to work with, no matter who is doing it since cement/surface affects color and can change it or look messy) You can buy 'how to' video on decoupage floors and save a ton of money for a unique, durable surface! DecoupageFloors.com Contact me if you have questions.

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decoupage floors

Awesome idea about the decoupage floor but this could be an issue if there is any condensate to floor slab during season transition etc.
Tile on top of concrete was perhaps put there for a reason if had moisture value. I would tear up a small 1x1 square somewhere not noticable and tape a piece of plastic over the top of concrete surface to do moisture test over a few nights just to be sure before going with decoupage floors.
To shine the concrete though you will want to sand it down with a machine once all bumps are removed. Then you will need to reseal the floor after etching it.
Some companies do this for hundreds less than others. So if using a company, Get about 5 bids if possible and not just 1 or 2.

p.s. You would save hundreds of dollars by removing carpet, padding and tile.
Use tile remover ( mini jackhammer with blade tip) it vibrates the blade you hold at slight angle next to the tile edge to chip it flush with floor and knock that mud off the floor. Don't hold the tile removing tool at 45° angle. Just a slight 15-25° angle is needed and wont stamp your slab with a pretty blade mark.) less grinding\sanding.

p.s.s. About decoupage floors.
I love them ! I helped install a coin mural floor this same way ! Glue them down. Cover with with Strongest Polyurethane on the market.
We also covered 1\4th inch thick wood ceiling panels this same way but used kids artwork as collage and a bit of spray paint to blend it.

Goodluck and let us know update

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JB Builder,

Please consider DECOUPAGE FLOORS as a great alternative to polished concrete. It's so much easier, requires tons less to prepare your slab, eco-green process, no color wear-through like stained cement, no wax needed, just damp mop or steam clean, custom coloring to suit your taste, creates a warm, soft surface (the paper creates a natural radiant barrier!), not slippery like polished concrete. I could go on and on. How to Decoupage Floors video on YouTube and you can then order the full video from me. It's easy and you can do it for a fraction of the cost of stained/polished concrete.

I hope someone here will be able to help. We are wanting to do poured concrete floors in the house we are planning. Our goal is to have it look as if we converted an old barn, and we think concrete floors would work to give that feel. I'd like to know where to go for the best instruction on pouring and sealing it. Also, sort of on the whimsical side, we thought we might "stamp" it with leaves, an animal track or two and a hoof print or two throughout the house. I know these will make indentations in the concrete, so how do I fill these so that they are level with the surface and smooth, so that dirt does not collect in them? Or am I crazy for wanting to do this--as my husband seems to think.

If your looking for a cold feeling hard on you feet and back floor then that would be the way to go.
You do know stamping is done by making an impression in the concrete? Not sure you can make it level and make an impression at the same time.
For a far less maintaince and far better looking floor look into engineered flooring. You can get is so it looks like old wooden floors.

for DEKOPAJ -- very clever. Did you sell any of your tapes?

always the spammers.

assuming you get all the glue and crud off the floors, assuming a professional believes they are good enough and consistent enough to work on, this will require some sort of gigantic grunt-operated diamond grinder. it is not DIY.

if you want cold floors, once you get them cleaned up and levelled, you could tile 'em. if you want warm floors, and noticeable power bills, you could install warm-floor mats or wires, embed in levelling compound or slightly thin thinset, and tile. or wood suitable for the purpose.

concrete floors IMPHO are for warehouses, not homes.