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Old timer told me to wet the subgrade before pouring. I skipped it once.
Figured it'd be fine on a damp morning, but the slab sucked the moisture out fast and I got crust on the surface before I could finish it. Had to grind it down and it looked like garbage. Anyone else learn that lesson the hard way?
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ryan_clark401mo ago
Oh man, that's a rough one. I've been there too, and it's one of those things that seems like a small shortcut but turns into a huge headache. The ground just sucks the water right out of the mix if it's dry, and then you're fighting the clock to get it smoothed out before it sets up like a brick. I actually started misting the subgrade the night before now, just a good soak so the ground is damp but not puddling, and it makes a world of difference for the pour. That crusty surface is the worst because it doesn't matter how good your mix is, once that top layer dries out too fast you're stuck with a finish that looks like a desert floor.
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grant.jason1mo ago
Yeah @ryan_clark40 have you ever had a buddy try to talk you into doing a pour when you know the ground is too dry? I had a friend who thought he could just wet it down with a garden hose right before the truck showed up. He ended up with this patch that looked like a moonscape, all cracked and rough, and he spent the next weekend chipping it out and redoing the whole thing. That misting trick the night before is pure gold, I've seen it save so much hassle. It's crazy how something so simple can make or break the whole job.
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