New Construction

Concrete Installation Guidelines-Residential and Commercial

If you’re thinking about installing polished concrete, there are things to consider before the project begins.  Polished concrete does not start when the polisher shows up at the door.  Here are some important points to remember and discuss with your concrete installer.There are a number of factors not mentioned here that are absolutely critical that you be made aware of and that the protocol is followed.  Please contact us for more information.

• A well-polished concrete floor requires careful coordination between the finishing contractor and floor polisher.
• Plastic blades are preferred over metal blades and every effort must be taken not to leave ANY trowel marks.
• Edges must be level with the main floor.
• ALL surfaces and edges must be fully and consistently consolidated to give a uniform finish.
• Voids and/or delamination will result in disfiguration of the floor.
• Timing is critical when closing the floor. Waiting too long in the curing process will directly affect the results of polishing process
• Laser screening is the preferred method of finishing.
• ACI standards are preferred.
• Check flatness and levelness of floor
• All edges need to conform with the rest of the floor, use machines on the edges and cold joints to ensure consolidation of the paste
• Completely smooth concrete with trowel, no pit holes, no trowel marks; concrete should be uniform in color

Proper Wet Cure Procedures

• Use water cured synthetic blankets (no burlap)
• These blankets are organic and are dumpster friendly. They can be purchased from MacTech or PNA
• Wet the slab to the point “flooding” the floor. Place the blankets down and squeegee the blankets onto the floor.
• The blankets will retain the moisture for 7 days
• Leave the blankets on for 7 days and once removed, scrub floor to remove residue.

Finishing Guidelines

• Pan float and then finish with plastic blades (strongly recommended). If using steel blades after pan float, finish lightly so as not to burn the floor.  Pay special attention to flat troweling at the edges and penetrations.
• This mix should be void of any foreign objects (nails, steel or debris, etc.)
• The finish should be preformed without bowls or low spots in the flooras the polishing process will reveal them.
• The finish should yield consistent surfaces without high/low trowel marks, pits, or areas of poor consolidation.
• When wet curing, the floor does not need to dry out under the blankets within the seven-day cure.
• Remove blankets after seven days. Immediately after blankets are removed, scrub floor to remove residue.
• When using a curing seal, seal should be dissipating and put on lightly and consistently without puddling.