Hot take: I been using too much water on my finish for 20 years

I was working a big driveway pour out near Waco last month, probably about 1,600 square feet, and this old timer comes over to watch me work. I'm out there with my bull float giving it a good spray and he just shakes his head. He said 'you're washing the cream right off the surface, son' and walked away. I thought about it for a minute and realized he was right... I always thought a little extra water helped it slick out nice but I was actually making the top layer weak. Next pour I cut the water way back, just enough to keep it from sticking, and the finish came out way tighter and darker. How much water are y'all using on your final passes?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor.mary1mo ago

Did you notice any difference in how easy it was to work the concrete without all that water?

richard_shah1mo ago

Did your buddy @taylor.mary have trouble spreading it out? My friend Mike tried that low water mix last summer on his patio... he said it was like pushing peanut butter around with a rake. Had to use a hand tamper just to get it to settle in the corners. Took him twice as long as he figured.