Hydraulic tiles can be polished, but not like terrazzo: they are taken down only as far as needed so as not to wear through the coloured layer that forms the pattern, and they are finished with a matt or satin seal. At Projectes Sastre we restore hydraulic tile floors in old buildings and houses all over Mallorca, and in 2026 we quote them per project, from around €700, when laying a new hydraulic tile floor costs almost €129/m².
Yes, a hydraulic tile floor can be polished without losing the pattern if it is taken down very gently and under control. A hydraulic tile is pressed cement with a top layer of pigment, and that layer is thin: aggressive polishing, meant for marble or terrazzo, wears it away in a few passes and leaves the grey cement showing.
That is why, with hydraulic tiles, we do not talk about polishing on its own but about restoration. First the floor is cleaned and the built-up wax, which is what dulls the colour most, is removed. Then, only where needed, it is taken down with fine-grit diamonds to remove scratches and rings. And finally it is sealed, because it is a porous material that soaks up stains and damp.
If you want to understand why it is so delicate, we explain how it is made in our guide on what a hydraulic tile is.
Restoring a hydraulic tile floor in Mallorca is quoted per project and, in 2026, starts at around €700. It is not charged only by the square metre, like a standard polish: what counts is the condition of the colour layer, how much old wax has to be removed, the stains and the access, which in the centre of Palma, with its narrow streets and no parking, also makes a difference.
To put it in context, the construction price generator from CYPE puts a new hydraulic tile floor at around €129/m², not counting lifting the old one or removing the debris. And finding the same pattern today is not always easy.
Is your floor terrazzo, marble or granite? Prices by material are on our page about floor polishing in Mallorca.
Grinding raises cement dust containing crystalline silica, which Royal Decree 1154/2020 lists among occupational carcinogens. That is why we work wet or with extraction built into the machine itself, room by room, even in occupied homes.
Because we have been restoring floors in Mallorca for more than 50 years and we know that hydraulic tiles are not treated like terrazzo: here, what we protect is the pattern.
Fine-grit diamond, and only where needed: the colour layer, which is thin, is not touched any more than necessary.
We protect the entrance and staircase, keep the way clear for neighbours and clean up at the end of every working day.
From our workshop in Inca we reach the Raiguer, the Pla and the Tramuntana in under half an hour.
We work wet or with extraction built into the machine, room by room, even while you are living in the house.
The closest to the original and the one that shows off the pattern best. No mirror shine.
If the colour layer is worn or there are loose tiles, we tell you during the visit instead of selling you a polish.
What people ask us most before restoring a hydraulic tile floor, with 2026 prices.
Polishing or restoring a hydraulic tile floor in Mallorca is quoted per project, from around €700 in 2026, because the price depends more on the condition of the colour layer and the built-up wax than on the square metres. For reference, a new hydraulic tile floor costs around €129/m² according to CYPE's price generator, not counting lifting the old one. We give you the quote after seeing the floor, free of charge.
Yes, an old hydraulic tile floor can be polished if it is taken down very gently and the thin colour layer is respected. First the old wax, which is what dulls it most, is removed, and then it is sealed with a matt or satin protector. What it cannot take is aggressive polishing like the kind given to marble or terrazzo.
It is not worth polishing a hydraulic tile floor when the colour layer has worn down to the cement in the areas people walk on most, because grinding further only makes the contrast worse, or when there are many loose or broken tiles because of a problem with the floor slab or with damp. In those cases the job is to clean, seal and protect what is left, or to repair the base before touching the surface.
A restored hydraulic tile floor is cleaned with warm water and neutral soap, mopping without soaking it, because it is porous cement and does not take well to damp or harsh products. Over time the seal wears and is renewed; in the meantime, a wax made for cement floors helps to maintain it. We explain it in our guide on how to clean hydraulic tiles.
A hydraulic tile floor almost always gets a matt or natural satin finish, the closest to the original and the one that shows off the pattern best. A mirror shine like that of crystallised marble does not suit this material. Above all, the protective seal stops the floor from absorbing stains and damp.
We restore hydraulic tile floors all over Mallorca. Most of them survive in the old buildings of central Palma, in areas such as the Old Town, Santa Catalina, Es Jonquet and El Terreno, and in the village houses of the Part Forana. We set out from our workshop in Inca, less than half an hour from the Raiguer, the Pla and the Serra de Tramuntana.
Do you have a dull hydraulic tile floor in an old building in Palma or in a village house? Before covering it up or replacing it, let us take a look. Call us on 971 50 39 36 or write to us: we will come and see it, tell you what can be saved and give you a no-obligation quote.
Guides to get to know your hydraulic tiles and look after them afterwards, plus the other old floors we restore in Mallorca.
Not sure whether to polish or replace your floor? We help you decide in our article on polishing or replacing the floor: when each option makes sense.
