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Polished concrete inspection checklists

Polished concrete inspection checklists for the rough-in, final and punch walks: 3 free lists, 36 items and 28 photo requirements, each item naming what to look for and the photo evidence it needs.

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The polished concrete walks, in build order

Polished concrete Rough-inPolished concrete rough-in inspection checklistSlab read, cleaned and repaired so the surface is flat, sound and ready to grind before the polishing sequence starts14 items10 photosPolished concrete FinalPolished concrete final inspection checklistGrind, densify and polish sequence complete with the specified aggregate exposure, sheen and clarity across the floor13 items12 photosPolished concrete PunchPolished concrete punch checklistCloseout callbacks for haze, scratches and traffic damage on a polished floor that is also the finished surface9 items6 photos

Where each walk sits in the schedule

  1. 01rough-in

    Polished concrete rough-in inspection checklist

    After the slab has cured and other trades are largely off the floor, before the first grind cut and before repairs get polished over.

    Run by: The polishing crew lead assessing the slab, or the GC's superintendent walking the floor before grinding begins.

  2. 02final

    Polished concrete final inspection checklist

    After the full grind, densify and polish sequence is finished, before the floor is covered for protection and before the owner's walk.

    Run by: The polishing crew lead with the GC's superintendent, walking the finished floor before protection goes down and before turnover.

  3. 03punch

    Polished concrete punch checklist

    During closeout, after protection comes up and after other trades and carts have marked the finished floor.

    Run by: The polishing crew on a callback, or the GC's superintendent clearing floor punch items before turnover.

What most often sends polished concrete work back

  • 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.
  • Sheen and clarity that vary between passes or between crews, so the floor reads blotchy under raking light even though every area was polished.
  • A grit step skipped to save time, leaving swirl marks and haze that no amount of the final burnish removes.
  • Aggregate exposure inconsistent across the floor, cream finish in one bay and salt-and-pepper in the next, because the first cut depth wandered.
  • Scratches and cart tracks buffed only at the surface so they flash back under light once the guard wears, instead of being re-polished out.
  • Efflorescence or a hazy film left from cleaning that reads as a dull patch, closed off as done without restoring the sheen to match.

Common questions

4 answers

Which polished concrete inspections do these checklists cover?
Polished concrete rough-in inspection checklist (rough-in): After the slab has cured and other trades are largely off the floor, before the first grind cut and before repairs get polished over. Polished concrete final inspection checklist (final): After the full grind, densify and polish sequence is finished, before the floor is covered for protection and before the owner's walk. Polished concrete punch checklist (punch): During closeout, after protection comes up and after other trades and carts have marked the finished floor.
Who runs a polished concrete inspection?
The polishing crew lead assessing the slab, or the GC's superintendent walking the floor before grinding begins. The polishing crew lead with the GC's superintendent, walking the finished floor before protection goes down and before turnover. The polishing crew on a callback, or the GC's superintendent clearing floor punch items before turnover.
What most often sends polished concrete work back?
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. Sheen and clarity that vary between passes or between crews, so the floor reads blotchy under raking light even though every area was polished.
Can I run these checklists in RTI?
Yes. Start a free RTI workspace and load any of the 3 lists (36 items in total). The Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached, and approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

Run these lists with the Photo Gate.

Tag one area, scan it, and the submit stays locked until the photos exist.

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