Planning a new slab for polished concrete

Record the intended exposure, sheen and areas to be polished. Include reference images or an agreed sample where appropriate, while recognising that natural materials vary. Slab Studio offers Nil / Surface Polish, Random Exposure and Full Exposure; external Pavilion areas need their own specification.

Tell the supplier that the slab will remain visible. Concrete selection affects appearance, while its structural specification remains the responsibility of the project’s designer or engineer. A preferred photograph should not replace those requirements.

• Finished levels. Coordinate adjoining floors, doorways, thresholds and the allowance for the proposed finishing work.
• Placement and finish. Agree the required surface with the placing contractor and polisher, including the expectations for a surface-polish result.
• Joints and details. Confirm the designed joint layout, penetrations and how exposed edges will be treated.
• Curing compatibility. Agree curing and protection methods with the responsible professionals and the intended polishing system.
• Programme and access. Plan workable access and the sequence of polishing, framing, cabinetry and other trades.

These are coordination questions, not a substitute for the engineered slab design. Avoid adopting a generic mix, thickness, joint spacing or grinding depth from an online checklist.

Treat exposed concrete as a finished material throughout the build. Establish how it will be protected from staining, trade damage and incompatible products, and who will maintain that protection. Confirm the proposed covering and adhesive arrangements with the polisher before applying them.

Keep concrete delivery information and records of products applied to the slab. If the programme, mix or curing method changes, communicate it to the project team rather than assuming polishing will conceal the difference.

Polishing cannot guarantee identical aggregate distribution or erase every variation created during placement. Good coordination establishes realistic expectations and identifies issues while there is still time to respond.

Slab Studio’s process is Assess, Grind, Refine and Finish. The sequence and timing are agreed for the actual slab, site conditions and specified system; there is no single timetable suitable for every pour.

For a project in Geelong, the Bellarine or Surf Coast, share the plans with Irwin before the pour. Include the intended exposure, proposed supplier, build stage and programme. That gives the conversation a useful starting point.

For technical background, consult CCAA’s Guide to Concrete Construction and Husqvarna’s concrete and casting recommendations. Manufacturer-specific details must be reconciled with the system and Australian project requirements actually specified.