Table of Contents
Allow all of the water to disappear before you do anything else. This can take 20 minutes or 4 hours depending on the temperature, humidity and how hard the wind is blowing. After the bleed water is all gone, you can get out your steel finishing trowel and put on the final touches.
Can you float concrete the next day?
Step 5 – Wait for Surface to Dry Wait for the water to completely drain back in before working any further on the slab. If you begin using a float too soon, you could sweep some of the water off the slab before it has a chance to be re-absorbed. Reducing the water content will weaken the surface of the concrete.
Do you have to float concrete?
Concrete should not be poured faster than it can be worked – spreading, consolidating, bull floating. Instead, concrete should be poured continuously as near as possible to its final position. You should never dump concrete into separate piles and work together.
When should you Broom concrete?
When it comes to brooming, timing is critical—brush too early and the surface will be weak, brush too late and there won’t be enough texture. It must be done while the slab is still soft, but after the bleed water has dissipated. Depending on the weather, this can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours.
What to do if it rains after pouring concrete?
Tips for Handling Rain After Pouring Concrete Don’t broadcast dry cement onto the concrete to soak up surface water. This will impair the finish and further weaken the top layer. Instead, once the rain passes, use a float to push the water off the edge of the slab before you start finishing.
Why does magnesium float on concrete?
Magnesium smooths the surface of fresh concrete and opens the pores for proper evaporation, all without pulling the surface like a wood or resin tool. Most magnesium floats are extruded or cast.
Can you float concrete too much?
If you haven’t done this before or only done it, a few times you are likely to make two mistakes; troweling too soon and troweling too much. Both of these have the effect of pulling fines and water to the surface. This can lead to a weakened surface, tiny cracks, and a white dusty surface.
Can you over work concrete?
Never overwork or over finish the surface of any exposed concrete slab. This brings too much fine material to the surface, works out the designed air entrainment*, and will weaken the surface of the slab leaving the top of slab more vulnerable to freeze/thaw damage and sheet scaling*.
What do you spray on concrete after it is poured?
DO spray new concrete with water. Known as “moist curing,” this allows the moisture in the concrete to evaporate slowly. Moist-cured concrete can be up to 50 percent stronger than concrete that was cured without being dampened!.
What is the difference between a float and a trowel?
A float has a thicker base than a trowel and is usually made of plastic, sponge, rubber, wood or magnesium – a lightweight pale grey metal. It’s used to even up the surface on plaster or concrete, make it firmer and give whatever texture is required. The finish will depend on the float chosen.
Do you have to use a bull float on concrete?
A bull float is used to level and smooth freshly poured concrete. Concrete used for visible projects, such as driveways, patios and sidewalks, often requires finishing.
How do I know when my concrete is ready?
When all traces of the water are gone and the concrete starts to harden, you can resume finishing activities. Test by pressing your gloved thumb onto the surface near the perimeter. The concrete is ready when pressing hard only leaves a 1/4-in.
Do you seal broom finish concrete?
Broom finished concrete is usually sealed to keep out road salts, stains, mold and mildew. Penetrating concrete sealers are the best option to seal broom finished concrete as they will not change the look or the appearance but will provide the longest lasting protection.
What kind of broom do you use on concrete?
The Marshalltown 6560 24″ Green Concrete Finish Broom is ideal for applying a fine or medium finish to newly poured concrete surfaces. The bristles are set in a lacquered hardwood block with threaded inset allowing you to use the broom by hand or a threaded broom handle.
How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?
Concrete typically takes 24 to 48 hours to dry enough for you to walk or drive on it. However, concrete drying is a continuous and fluid event, and usually reaches its full effective strength after about 28 days.
Can I pour concrete in a hole full of water?
The good news is that you can pour the concrete in water. The biggest issue with pouring concrete under water is movement. If the water is moving, it can wash away the cement paste that’s holding the sand and gravel together. But if the water is calm, then it’s not a problem at all.
Can I drive on concrete after 3 days?
Your new concrete is designed to reach 90% of its full strength potential after 7 days, so feel free to drive your personal vehicle on it then. It will take additional time before you can drive or park heavy equipment or machinery on your newly poured concrete, so make sure to wait at least 30 days.
How do you smooth concrete after it dries?
These are the 4 steps in how to smooth concrete after it dries: Remove all imperfections on the surface. Vacuum up all debris and apply the adherent. Apply a new layer of concrete. Sand the surface and wash the concrete. Apply a layer of vitrifier to protect the concrete.
Why do you finish concrete?
Finishing makes concrete attractive and serviceable. The final texture, hardness, and joint pattern on slabs, floors, sidewalks, patios, and driveways depend on the concrete’s end use. Exterior slabs must be sloped to carry away water and must provide a texture that will not be slippery when wet.
Why are concrete tools made of magnesium?
Magnesium options offer a way to essentially screed and float in one step – as the concrete is placed, the operator pulls the float along the surface of the material (screeding) and the magnesium blade leaves a smooth (floated) surface.
