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Construction Protection
A polished concrete floor can be damaged before the building opens. Equipment leaks, paint, material storage and debris caught in tires can leave stains or damage the finished surface.
At Craftsman Concrete, we coordinate and install floor protection as part of the agreed project scope. We work with the general contractor to plan when other trades need access, where materials and equipment will be stored, and who will maintain protection after our crew leaves. Establishing those arrangements early helps protect the finished floor through the remaining construction work.
Plan protection before polishing
Protection starts while the slab is still unfinished. Concrete intended to remain exposed needs to be protected from marking, spills and construction activities that could affect its final appearance.
Before polishing begins, establish:
- Which work can be completed before the floor is polished.
- Where trades will travel and work afterward.
- Where materials, equipment and charging stations will be located.
- Who will install, inspect and maintain floor protection.
- Who will respond to spills or damaged coverings.
The person responsible for ongoing protection needs to remain involved while other trades are working. Craftsman coordinates and installs protection within the agreed scope; before our crew leaves, we establish who will maintain it throughout the remaining construction work.
Our polished concrete guide for builders explains how this fits into the wider construction sequence.
Control the activities most likely to damage the floor
The protection plan should give trades clear instructions they can follow on site.
| Activity or hazard | Practical protection |
|---|---|
| Equipment traffic | Use non-marring tires and remove embedded rocks, screws, nails and other debris |
| Oil and hydraulic leaks | Use absorbent containment beneath components that could drip; inspect for leaks |
| Material and tool storage | Use designated storage areas and suitable protection beneath stored items |
| Steel and ferrous metals | Keep them from resting directly on the slab |
| Pipe cutting and threading | Perform these operations away from the finished floor |
| Painting | Use breathable drop cloths and remove spills promptly |
| Marking the slab | Keep markers, spray paint and soapstone off concrete intended for polishing |
| Food and drink | Keep consumption away from exposed floor areas where spills could stain |
| Acids and acidic detergents | Prevent contact with the polished surface |
Protective coverings do not eliminate the need to inspect equipment or control the work above them. A leaking lift or debris embedded in a tire still needs attention.
Maintain protection through remaining construction
After polishing, the floor still needs protection while construction continues. Coverings need to breathe and suit the activity, spills need prompt removal with a cleanup method compatible with the treatment, and the treatment’s requirements and planned activity are checked before an area reopens. The site team needs to maintain the agreed protection through the remaining work.
Use coverings suited to the finished floor
Use breathable floor protection. Never cover polished concrete with plastic sheeting—it can create ghost lines on the finished surface. Any covering left in place over the floor must breathe.
Never apply tape directly to a polished concrete floor. Craftsman tapes protective coverings to one another and secures them to the building structure, not to the floor. Tape adhesive can leave residue and stain the finished surface.
The covering also needs to suit the activity and the floor treatment’s stage of cure. Protection for painting is a different requirement from protection beneath equipment or stored materials. Confirm the intended use instead of treating any sheet material as adequate floor protection.
Respond to spills immediately
Report and remove spills promptly. Paint, oil, hydraulic fluid and other contaminants should not be left until the end of the shift or hidden beneath a covering.
Use a cleanup method compatible with the floor treatment. Keep acids and acidic detergents off the surface, and avoid leaving standing water during cleanup.
Freshly applied treatments also need protection while they cure. Where ACI SPEC-310.1-20 governs the work, it requires protection from standing moisture for 72 hours after completion. That is not a universal full-cure time or permission to leave water on the floor afterward.
Keep protection in place while construction continues
A floor being ready for foot traffic does not mean it is ready for unrestricted construction traffic, equipment parking or material storage. Check the treatment’s requirements and the planned activity before reopening an area.
Craftsman coordinates the polishing schedule and treatment restrictions with the project team. The site team then needs to maintain the agreed protection, control access and address spills or equipment problems during the remaining work.
For projects governed by ACI SPEC-310.1-20, protection of the completed finish continues until Substantial Completion. Our return-to-service guide explains the separate milestones for traffic, water exposure and full cure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Craftsman coordinates and installs floor protection as part of the agreed project scope. We work with the general contractor to plan trade access, construction sequencing and treatment restrictions. Before our crew leaves, we establish who will maintain the protection during the remaining construction work.
Yes, once the floor treatment permits the intended access and suitable protection is in place. Painting, equipment traffic and material storage create different risks. A floor being ready for walking does not automatically make it ready for every construction activity.
No. Never apply tape directly to a polished concrete floor. Craftsman tapes protective coverings to one another and secures them to the building structure, not to the floor. Tape adhesive can leave residue and stain the finished surface.
Maintain protection while remaining construction activities could damage the floor, following the project requirements. ACI SPEC-310.1-20 requires protection until Substantial Completion when it governs the work. Treatment cure times and permissions for particular activities still need to be observed.
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Craftsman Publishes 2026–2027 ESD Flooring Technical Guide
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