nina_clark•1mo agoMost Upvoted

Poured a slab for a backyard patio last Tuesday and watched it crumble in the rain

I was finishing a 12x16 slab in Portland when a surprise storm hit about 20 minutes after I troweled it. The surface got all pitted and soft, and I had to tear out half the pour the next morning. Anyone else had a fresh slab ruined by weather and have a trick to protect it fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

sage_morgan751mo ago

Nah, I gotta disagree with the plastic sheeting approach! Covering wet concrete traps moisture and can mess with the curing process, leaving you with a weaker slab in the long run. If your mix is right and you trowel at the right time, a little rain shouldn't ruin it - maybe the issue was more about timing or the concrete itself than the weather.

sam_wood601mo ago

Oh boy, that's a tough break. I feel for you, I really do. I had a similar thing happen years ago with a driveway in Ohio and it still makes me cringe thinking about it. For a quick fix, I always keep a few rolls of heavy plastic sheeting and some sandbags in the truck during pour season. The moment you see clouds building, just cover the slab and weigh it down, it buys you enough time for the surface to set if the rain is light. Also, check the forecast every hour that morning, even the apps can miss a popup storm.