Verify a mix design ordered for an interior polished concrete slab

Steps

1. Confirm the water-to-cementitious-materials ratio (w/cm) is appropriate for the exposure and strength requirements, understanding that a lower w/cm generally supports a harder, more consistently polishable surface, while excess water increases paste porosity.
2. If fly ash or other supplementary cementitious materials are included, discuss polishing implications with the mix supplier and polishing contractor on a project-specific basis, since SCM content, dosage, and curing conditions affect surface hardness, color/aggregate appearance, and grinding timing in ways that vary by project rather than a single fixed rule.
3. Confirm aggregate selection (size, hardness, color) aligns with the exposure class agreed with the owner (cream, salt-and-pepper, or full aggregate exposure), since the mix design -- not just the grinding sequence -- determines what aggregate is available to expose.
4. Avoid unnecessary admixtures, such as excess air entrainment on an interior polished floor not exposed to freeze-thaw, unless required for another performance reason, since they can interfere with achieving a dense, polishable surface.
5. Require the mix design submittal and any trial batch/mock-up results before the production pour so the polishing contractor can confirm the mix will behave as expected under grinding.