TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DIVISION 3: CONCRETE
SECTION 03 35 00: POLISHED CONCRETE FINISHING
PART 1: GENERAL
1.01: SECTION INCLUDES
a. Polished Concrete.
b. Dyed and polished concrete.
1.02: RELATED SECTIONS
a. Section 030130 – Maintenance of Cast-in-Place Concrete
b. Section 033000 – Cast-in-Place-Concrete
c. Section 079126 – Joint Filler
1.03: REFERENCES
a. American Concrete Institute (ACI): ACI 302.1R – Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction
b. American National Standards Institute (ANSI): Standards B-101.1/2009.
c. ASTM International:
1. ASTM C309 – Standard Specification for Liquid Membrane-Forming Compounds for Curing Concrete.
2. ASTM C171 – Standard Specification for Sheet Materials for Curing Concrete.
3. ASTM C779 – Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Horizontal Concrete Surfaces.
1.04: SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
a. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
1. Hardened Concrete Properties:
• Minimum Concrete Compressive Strength: 3500 psi.
• Normal Weight Concrete: No lightweight aggregate.
• Non-air entrained.
2. Placement Properties:
• Natural concrete slump of 4-1/2 inches to 5 inches (114 to 127 mm). Admixtures may be used.
• Flatness Requirements: 1) Overall FF 50; 2) Local FF 40
3. Hard-Steel Troweled (3 passes) Concrete: No burnishing marks.
1.05: QUALITY ASSURANCE
a. Installer Qualifications:
1. Installer with a minimum of 5 years experience in performing work of this section who has specialized
in installation of work similar to that required for this project.
b. Concrete finishing components and materials shall be from single manufacturer.
c. Manufacturer Qualifications:
1. Manufacturer capable of providing field service representation during construction and approving
application method.
2. Manufacturer shall have a minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing components similar to or
exceeding requirements of project.
d. Mock-Ups:
1. Mock-Up Size: 100 sf (9.3 m2) sample panel at jobsite at location as directed under conditions similar
to those which will exist during actual placement.
2. Mock-up will be used to judge workmanship, concrete substrate preparation, operation of equipment,
material application, color selection and shine.
3. Allow 24 hours for inspection of mock-up before proceeding with work.
4. When accepted, mock-up will demonstrate minimum standard of quality required for this work.
5. Mock-Up will demonstrate required level of cut:
• Level 1 - Cream Finish: Polishing only the Portland Cement paste at the surface without exposing
small, medium or large aggregate. Note: If dye will be used, this is not an acceptable level of grinding.
Go to Level 2.
SECTION 03 35 00: POLISHED CONCRETE FINISHING
Page 1 of 4
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DIVISION 3: CONCRETE
• Level 2 - Salt/Pepper Finish: Expose the fine aggregate such as sand and small aggregate with the
concrete. The depth of grind will depend greatly on the placement and finishing procedures.
Generally, this level of cut can be achieved within 1/16" of the surface.
• Level 3 - Medium Aggregate: Exposing more of the overall girth of the coarse aggregate within the
concrete. Generally, this level of cut can be achieved within 1/8" of the surface.
• Level 4 - Large Aggregate: Exposing the overall girth of the coarse aggregate within the concrete.
This level of cut generally can be achieved within 1/4" of the surface.
6. Pre-installation Meetings: Conduct a pre-installation meeting to verify project requirements,
manufacturer's installation instructions and manufacturer's warranty requirements.
1.06: DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING
a. Ordering: Comply with manufacturer’s ordering instructions and lead time requirements to avoid
construction delays.
b. Delivery: Deliver materials in manufacturer's original packaging with identification labels and seals intact.
c. Storage and Protection: Store materials protected from exposure to harmful weather conditions and at
temperature conditions recommended by manufacturer.
1.07: PROJECT CONDITIONS
a. Maintain environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, and ventilation) within limits recommended by
manufacturer for optimum results. Do not install products under environmental conditions outside
manufacturer's recommended limits.
b. Protect Concrete Slab:
1. Protect from petroleum stains during construction.
2. Diaper hydraulic power equipment.
3. Restrict vehicular parking.
4. Restrict use of pipe cutting machinery.
5. Restrict placement of reinforcing steel on slab.
6. Restrict use of acids or acidic detergents on slab.
1.08: PROJECT AMBIENT CONDITIONS
a. Installation Location: Comply with manufacturer’s written recommendations.
1.09: SEQUENCING
a. Sequence with Other Work: Comply with manufacturer’s written recommendations for sequencing
construction operations.
1.10: WARRANTY
a. Manufacturer's Warranty: Submit, for Owner's acceptance, manufacturer's standard warranty document
executed by authorized company official. Manufacturer's warranty is in addition to, and does not limit,
other rights Owner may have under Contract Documents.
PART 2: PRODUCTS
2.01: MANUFACTURERS
a. Manufacturers shall be considered in accordance with provisions of Section 01 60 00 - Product
Requirements.
2.02: POLISHED CONCRETE
a. Products/Systems:
1. Hardener, Sealer, Densifier: Proprietary, water based, odorless liquid, VOC compliant, environmentally
safe chemical hardening solution leaving no surface film.
b. Joint Filler: Semi-rigid, 2-component, self-leveling, 100% solids, rapid curing, polyurea control joint and
crack filler with Shore A 80 or higher hardness.
SECTION 03 35 00: POLISHED CONCRETE FINISHING
Page 2 of 4
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DIVISION 3: CONCRETE
c. Oil Repellent Sealer: Ready to use, silane, siloxane and fluoropolymers blended water-based solution sealer,
quick drying, low-odor, oil and water repellent, VOC compliant and compatible with chemically hardened
floors.
d. Concrete Dyes: Fast-drying dye, packaged in premeasured units ready for mixing with water or VOC exempt
solvent; formulated for application to polished cementitious surfaces.
e. Cleaning Solution: Proprietary, mild, highly concentrated liquid concrete cleaner and conditioner containing
wetting and emulsifying agents; biodegradable, environmentally safe and certified High Traction by
National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI).
f. Stain Guard Sealer: Ready to use, is a low odor, VOC compliant, topical sealer consisting of low molecular
emulsified cross-linking, coupling polymers that effectively protect concrete and other natural stone floor
surfaces from the damaging effects of staining, defacing and deterioration due to contaminant
penetration.
PART 3: EXECUTION
3.01: EXAMINATION
a. Site Verification of Conditions:
1. Verify that concrete substrate conditions, which have been previously installed under other sections
or contracts, are acceptable for product installation in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
prior to installation of concrete finishing materials.
b. Do not begin installation until substrates have been properly prepared.
c. If substrate preparation is the responsibility of another installer, notify Architect of unsatisfactory
preparation before proceeding.
d. Verify Concrete Slab Performance Requirements:
1. Verify concrete is cured to 28-day duration and 3500 psi strength.
2. Verify concrete surfaces have received a hard steel-trowel finish during placement.
3. Verify overall floor flatness is a minimum of Ff 40.
3.02: PREPARATION
a. Ensure surfaces are clean and free of dirt and other foreign matter harmful to performance of concrete
finishing materials.
b. Examine surface to determine soundness of concrete for polishing
3.03: INSTALLATION
a. Compliance: Comply with manufacturer's written data, including product technical bulletins, product
catalog installation instructions, product carton installation instructions.
b. Floor Surface Polishing and Treatment:
1. Provide polished concrete floor treatment in entirety of slab indicated by drawings. Provide consistent
finish in all contiguous areas.
2. Apply floor finish prior to installation of fixtures and accessories.
3. Diamond polish concrete floor surfaces with power disc machine recommended by floor finish
manufacturer. Sequence with coarse to fine grit. Installer to determine the optimum starting grit in
order to achieve the specified aggregate exposure.
• Comply with manufacturer's recommended polishing grits for each sequence to achieve desired
finish level. Following the initial passes of metal bond diamonds, the installer shall drop back a
minimum of one grit level when transitioning to resin bond diamonds. The separation in grit
designation shall be a minimum of 50 for the transitioning step. The installer shall refine each
abrasive grit to its fullest potential before moving on to the next level. Floor shall be thoroughly
scrubbed between each grit pass to remove all loose material. Level of sheen shall match that of
approved mock-up.
SECTION 03 35 00: POLISHED CONCRETE FINISHING
Page 3 of 4
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DIVISION 3: CONCRETE
• Expose aggregate in concrete surface only as determined by approved mock-up.
• All concrete surfaces shall be as uniform in appearance as possible.
4. Dyed and Polished Concrete:
• Locate demarcation line between dyed surfaces and other finishes.
• Polish concrete to the 400 grit level, (200 grit for water based dyes).
• Apply pre-mixed dyes to polished concrete surface.
• Allow dye to dry.
• Remove residue with water and buffer pad; reapply as necessary for desired result.
5. Hardener and Densifier Application:
• First coat of FGS Hardener Plus at 250 ft2/gal (6.25 m2/L), following the 400 grit level. (Lion Hard at
400-600 sq ft / gallon).
• Second coat of FGS Hardener Plus at 350 ft2/gal (8.75 m2/L), prior to the final polishing pass (Lion
Hard at 600-800 sq ft / gallon).
• Follow manufacturer's recommendations for drying time between successive coats.
6. Remove defects and re-polish defective areas.
7. Finish edges of floor finish adjoining other materials in a clean and sharp manner.
3.04: ADJUSTMENTS
a. Re-polish those areas not meeting specified gloss levels per mock-up.
b. Fill joints flush to surface prior to the start of polishing operations.
3.05: FINAL CLEANING
a. Upon completion, remove surplus and excess materials, rubbish, tools and equipment.
3.06: PROTECTION
a. Protect installed product from damage during construction in accordance with manufacturer's
recommendations.
END OF SECTION
SECTION 03 35 00: POLISHED CONCRETE FINISHING
Page 4 of 4
