I’ve worked with just about every kind of concrete finish you can name. Gloss, matte, burnished, exposed aggregate, grind and seal. But there’s one finish that’s consistently become a standout in recent years, especially across the Central Coast. I call it the Pavilion Finish.
Clients love it because it hits that sweet spot. It’s refined without being flashy. Smooth without feeling sterile. And more importantly, it’s practical for real homes with real people. You don’t have to be building a resort to want your floors to look this good.sThe Pavilion Finish came out of a need for something that felt premium but didn’t scream for attention. I was getting asked for polished concrete that didn’t have that mirror-gloss vibe. People wanted something more natural. More grounded. So I started refining the process. Playing with grit levels, sealers, timing. Eventually, I landed on a finish that had a soft sheen, minimal reflectivity, and just the right amount of aggregate showing through.
It’s now one of the most requested looks I do, especially for homes near the coast. The salty air, the sandy feet, the indoor-outdoor living, it all plays well with this kind of surface. It hides minor marks better than high-gloss finishes, and it gives off this relaxed, coastal-modern feel that fits the lifestyle here perfectly.
I’ve done Pavilion Finish floors in kitchens, hallways, bedrooms, even around pools. It adapts to different lighting throughout the day and doesn’t compete with other design elements. Whether you’re pairing it with timber, steel, or stone, it just works.
From a technical side, there’s a bit more finesse involved. The timing needs to be tighter. The machinery setup is slightly different. The sealing system has to be dialled in properly so it doesn’t look patchy or too matte. But that’s where experience counts. You can’t shortcut this type of finish. It either looks effortless or it looks like someone tried to copy it and missed the mark.
Builders who’ve worked with me on Pavilion jobs now spec it into their own homes. That tells me everything I need to know. When a builder chooses your finish for their own place, you know you’ve nailed it.
This finish has become a signature of mine not because I market it hard, but because people walk into these homes and say, “Whatever that is, I want it.”
If you’re building or renovating on the Central Coast and looking for something timeless that still feels modern, don’t settle for whatever’s trending. Get a finish that actually holds up, looks sharp, and feels like home.
