Free checklist
Polished concretePolished concrete rough-in inspection checklist
Polished concrete rough-in is the last time the work is fully visible. Once the cover inspection passes and the walls, ceilings and slabs close, every defect left behind becomes a demolition bill. This checklist walks the rough-in in the order the work goes in, with the photo each item needs before it gets buried. Work is commonly verified against ASTM concrete floor test methods, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 5
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The polishing crew lead assessing the slab, or the GC's superintendent walking the floor before grinding begins.
When in the schedule
After the slab has cured and other trades are largely off the floor, before the first grind cut and before repairs get polished over.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Slab condition and flatness
- 2 photos
Slab flatness and levelness assessed before grinding
Floor checked for flatness and low spots, high and low areas identified, exposure of aggregate agreed with the owner before the first cut sets the look.
Repairs and crack treatment
- 2 photos
Cracks, spalls and joints repaired with matched material
Cracks and spalls routed and filled, control joints filled where specified, repair material chosen to take polish and color close to the slab.
Surface cleaned and open
- 1 photo
Contaminants removed so the surface will accept densifier
Curing compound, coatings, adhesive and stains removed, the surface clean and open so the densifier can penetrate uniformly.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Cracks, spalls and pop-outs filled with a patch that grinds to a different color and sheen than the slab, leaving a visible scar in the finished floor.
- Curing compound, adhesive or paint over-spray left on the surface, so the densifier will not penetrate evenly where it is contaminated.
- Floor flatness never checked, so low spots and high spots that the grinder can not correct show as an uneven finish once the sheen comes up.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 5 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Common questions
- What does this polished concrete rough-in checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering slab condition and flatness, repairs and crack treatment, surface cleaned and open. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The polishing crew lead assessing the slab, or the GC's superintendent walking the floor before grinding begins.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the slab has cured and other trades are largely off the floor, before the first grind cut and before repairs get polished over.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 5 of the 3 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a polished concrete rough-in inspection?
- Cracks, spalls and pop-outs filled with a patch that grinds to a different color and sheen than the slab, leaving a visible scar in the finished floor. Curing compound, adhesive or paint over-spray left on the surface, so the densifier will not penetrate evenly where it is contaminated. Floor flatness never checked, so low spots and high spots that the grinder can not correct show as an uneven finish once the sheen comes up.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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