When honing a new install, many technicians chase lippage creating waves. Nine times out of ten this happens because a two step honing process was performed when a full three step grind, hone and polish procedure was required. Often we find ourselves competing on price, and to meet that price we offer some variation of the tried and true good-better-best method. A basic clean, a hone and polish to split the difference, and a full grind down. During the initial consultation you likely told your customer what was required, but you offered them three options and they took the middle of the road because that is what they have been conditioned to do by every advertising agency for the past hundred years. The end result is a dissatisfied customer and a technician who leaves at the end of the day defeated after staring out at the wavy funhouse mirror he's left behind on the jobsite. I found that the best way to avoid this was to show the customer the difference in a way they could feel Depending on your customer this could take the form of photos or pre-prepared sample boards. Ideally I like to perform a test spot right in the middle of their floor and let them feel the difference while they decide. Check out the photos below to see what I mean. The first floor was ground down to 50 grit and brought all the way back up to 3000 grit then powder polished to create a floor with zero lippage and a brilliant reflection. The second floor started with lippage in excess of 1/4" in some areas but the GC insisted that a hone and polish was the top of their budget. Which version would you feel better leaving behind for your client?