• When utilizing polished concrete, the final polish is dependent upon the flatwork that proceeds it.

• Needs for Polished and Exposed Concrete Floors:
– Well Placed Flatwork (consistent aggregate placement)
– Well Consolidated Flatwork (no air, no moisture, no voids)
– Well Finished Flatwork (no finish marks, no trowel marks, not burned)
– A Flat Floor

SPECIFICATIONS
The following guidelines are preferred specifications for flatwork finishing prior to polishing:

– Preferred Floor Flatness (FF) of 50

– Preferred Floor Levelness (FL) of 35

– Alternative to FF/FL is the Strike off Method:
• Measure at the wall in the middle of the floor to take readings to measure flatness in different areas of the floor
• 0”–1/8” is favorable, 1/8”–1⁄4 is wavy/unfavorable.

– Bull-floated, smooth, pan-finished floor from edge to edge, with no rough areas.

– On checkerboard pours (i.e. public facilities, free floating slabs, etc) pay special attention to level troweling to the wall to prevent discoloration due to FF dip near the wall.

– Concrete Compressive Strength: 3,500psi to 5,000psi.

– Lightweight Concrete: Not allowed if aggregate exposure is required.

– Concrete Curing: Minimum 8 days water cured or dissipating curing compound applied.

– Laser screeding is good for ensuring flatness

– Consider your edging options (border striping, hand tooling, etc) to ensure work is sequenced properly.

– Be sure to discuss adequate protection for the slab during pre and post construction to ensure the concrete is not damaged during installation of other trades.

– When sequencing the project, keep in mind that polished concrete is a final product surface.

– Call you local polishing craftsman for a spec customized to your client's vision.