Existing Floor Covering to Polished Concrete Conversion

When a big retail grocery store planned a full-floor renovation at their Santa Cruz location, the expectations were straightforward: remove aging tile, grind the slab, and deliver a clean, durable 1500-grit polished concrete floor—without disrupting nightly store operations. But as is often the case in renovation work, the slab had a surprise in store.

A Project Built Around Precision and Phasing

Perfect Polish began work on September 30, executing the entire scope at night so store operations could continue seamlessly each morning. The plan included removing all existing tile, performing a complete metal grind, and bringing the floor to a high-performance 1500-grit shine before sealing and burnishing according to owner and general contractor specifications.

The team progressed deliberately across the sales floor, phasing areas to maintain accessibility, visibility, and customer safety. Tile removal moved quickly, with the entire floor cleared by October 7—well within schedule.

The Hidden Challenge: A Koster Seal

As the first sections of tile came up, crews uncovered an unexpected obstacle: a Koster seal covering the slab. This type of coating is notoriously difficult to cut through using standard 30/40 metal-bond tooling, and its presence had the potential to slow production significantly.

Perfect Polish responded immediately. The ownership team and general contractor were notified the same day, followed by an onsite walkthrough within the first week. After evaluating the entire slab condition, the teams approved a change order authorizing an aggressive grind to break through the Koster layer and restore production pace.

A High-Performance Result

With the corrected grinding plan in place, progress accelerated. The polishing phase averaged roughly 2,000 square feet per night, with the full polish cycle completed in approximately 21 days.

By project completion, Perfect Polish delivered a consistent, durable 1500-grit finish across the entire sales floor. The team closed out the project with no deficiencies, and both the general contractor and store management expressed high satisfaction with the final appearance and performance of the polished floor.

The hidden Koster seal, added repairs, and the constraints of overnight work in an active retail environment presented multiple hurdles—but none that disrupted the project’s momentum. Through rapid communication, technical adaptability, and disciplined nightly production, Perfect Polish met the owner's expectations and turned over a clean, high-gloss polished concrete system built to withstand long-term commercial traffic.