What can we help you with?
Technical flooring, delivered directly
- ESD flooring, urethane cement, terrazzo, and polished concrete
- In-house W-2 installation crews and experienced field leadership
- National service coverage with project-specific staffing plans
- Testing, documentation, and defined project closeout
- Dedicated support for corporate procurement and multi-site contracting
Phone: +1 (844) 687-1961
Check the slab against the project requirements
Craftsman reviews the concrete’s condition, available test results and preparation requirements before polishing begins. We document defects that could affect the finish and work with the project team to resolve unacceptable conditions or obtain written approval of a remediation plan before proceeding.
The ACI requirements below apply when the project incorporates that specification. Project-specific Contract Documents govern any conflict.
Our existing concrete assessment guide covers the earlier survey of the floor and its preparation needs.
ACI SPEC-310.1-20 requires the following checks before polishing:
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Curing | The slab surface was cured in accordance with the Contract Documents. |
| Original flatness and levelness | The specified requirements when the slab was placed and finished are in accordance with ASTM E1155 and the Contract Documents. |
| Compressive strength | Concrete strengths meet the Contract Documents. |
| Product application temperatures | Ambient and surface temperatures meet the manufacturers’ requirements for every product used. |
| Surface hardness | The Owner’s testing agency results comply with the specification. Slab-surface Mohs hardness must be greater than 4. |
| Flatness before polishing | The Owner’s testing agency results measured before polishing are appropriate for the specified finish. |
| Surface defects | Curling, stains, cracks, trowel marks and other defects will not prevent the specified polished finish. |
Unless otherwise specified, ACI also assigns the polishing contractor responsibility for confirming that surface-profile tolerances allow the specified aggregate exposure.
Placement measurements and pre-polishing measurements are separate checks. Our floor flatness before polishing guide explains the distinction. The concrete hardness guide covers the strict greater-than-4 requirement and tooling considerations.
Clear the slab before work starts
ACI SPEC-310.1-20 requires a minimum slab temperature, a clean work area and a plan identifying surface defects. Conditions that would adversely affect the finished appearance need written notice, then correction or a remediation plan approved in writing. Where ACI and CPC provisions govern, starting work accepts that area’s surface conditions, not the finished floor.
Confirm the surface and work area are ready
ACI SPEC-310.1-20 requires a slab temperature of at least 50°F before work starts, with provisions to maintain the slab at 50°F. The area must be clean, with minimal construction materials and debris. Product-specific temperature requirements also apply.
Our adhesive, coating and contamination removal guide covers preparation methods and product-specific cleaning requirements.
Document defects and resolve unacceptable conditions
ACI SPEC-310.1-20 requires a plan identifying surface defects, with locations referenced to building column lines. Unless otherwise specified, it also requires a crack-location plan using the same reference system.
Before polishing, notify the Architect/Engineer, Owner’s Representative or both in writing of conditions that would adversely affect the finished appearance. Work can start after either:
- The unsatisfactory conditions are corrected in accordance with the Contract Documents.
- The Architect/Engineer, Owner’s Representative or both approve a remediation plan in writing.
The submittals and product-system documentation guide covers the related project records.
Understand what starting work accepts
ACI SPEC-310.1-20 and the Concrete Polishing Council guide specification treat starting work in an area as acceptance of that area’s surface conditions when those provisions govern the project.
That acceptance concerns the receiving surface in the area where work begins. It is not acceptance of the finished polished floor or of areas where work has not started.
Project Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Under ACI SPEC-310.1-20, work may begin after the unsatisfactory conditions are corrected in accordance with the Contract Documents or after the Architect/Engineer, Owner’s Representative or both approve a remediation plan in writing.
No. ACI SPEC-310.1-20 separately addresses the requirements when the slab was placed and finished and whether the Owner’s testing agency results measured before polishing are appropriate for the specified finish.
No. The ACI and CPC provisions concern surface conditions in the area where work starts. They do not automatically accept untouched areas or the finished polished floor.
Polished Concrete Knowledge Center
Resource links
Performance & Safety
Design & Aesthetics
Installation Guidance
Economics & Sustainability
Maintenance & Aftercare
Comparative & Decision-Making
Blog
Craftsman Publishes 2026–2027 ESD Flooring Technical Guide
ESD Epoxy Flooring Case Study: 34,000 SF Dallas, TX
