Polished concrete is not one product. Nominate these six things and the floor your client receives will be the floor you designed. Use this as a specification checklist for your project.
How to Write Your Spec · Two Examples
MPC
Mechanically polished concrete, Holcim Corsica polished mix, 40 MPa, in a full stone exposure, semi-gloss finish, with a P3 slip rating.
Honed
Honed concrete, standard mix, 25 MPa, full stone exposure, matte finish, with a wet-look sealer and non-slip to P5.
1Concrete Mix & Colour
The base mix is your canvas, cement colour and aggregate are what show once it is ground.
Standard mix usually grey with bluestone, best to confirm and state exactly.
Decorative mix specify the supplier and mix (for example Holcim Corsica Polished).
2Strength (MPa)
Grinding exposes the slab, so it must be hard and dense enough to polish cleanly. Honed can be as low as 25 MPa.
40 MPa recommended for nil exposure MPC.
32 MPa recommended for MPC, honed or grind & seal.
25 MPa recommended for residential honed or grind & seal.
3System / Process
Sets the durability, maintenance and cost of the floor.
Mechanically Polished (MPC) ground and densified; hardest-wearing, lowest upkeep.
Grind & Seal topical sealer; lower cost, high stain and chemical resistance.
Honed matte, low-sheen finish, an outdoor and alfresco favourite.
4Special Finishes & Add-Ons
Optional treatments that change colour, tone or clarity.
Wet-look / enhanced richer, darker tone (available for honed).
Bond coat keeps coatings lighter and white (available for coatings).
Other slip resistance, set-downs, samples for approval, and more.
5Stone (Aggregate) Exposure
How much stone shows is a choice, and it must be planned at the pour.
Nil little to no stone.
Minimum random, salt and pepper look.
Full decorative stone look.
NilMinimal / randomFull
6Gloss Level
Sheen changes the whole look and the reflectivity of the floor.
Matte
Semi-gloss
High-gloss
MatteSemi-glossHigh-gloss
Two more things to coordinate at slab stage
Slip resistance nominate a rating for wet and external areas (AS 4586 P-rating or R-rating), see our Slip Rating Guide. Set-downs and waterproofing coordinate floor levels and wet-area membranes early.
