A retired finisher in Spokane told me he always adds a cup of sugar to his wash water for cold weather pours.

He said it keeps the surface from freezing before the set, and I tried it on a garage floor last November. Has anyone else tested this old trick?

3 comments

3 Comments

caleb_walker624d ago

Wait a full cup of sugar? That seems like a crazy amount to just dump in the mix. Wouldn't that totally mess with the cure and make the concrete weak later on? I've heard of using a little salt or special admixtures, but plain sugar sounds like asking for trouble. That garage floor might look okay now but could turn to dust in a few years.

the_mary24d ago

Sugar actually works as a set retarder in small doses, but a whole cup is way too much. It messes with the chemical reaction and can leave you with a soft, crumbly surface. Seen it happen on a job where they tried to extend the working time and ruined the slab.

gray55715d ago

So they were baking a cake, right?