Unpopular opinion: The fear of a little bleed water on a hot pour is way overblown.

I've seen guys panic and overwork the surface trying to chase it off, which just makes a weak skin. Let it evaporate naturally for a stronger finish, right?

3 comments

3 Comments

grays1313d ago

Spot on... chasing that water with a trowel just pulls paste up and makes a total mess. I've watched guys turn a tiny damp spot into a huge weak patch full of sand streaks. The worst is when they hit it with the float too early and it looks okay for a minute, then it all turns to crap as it dries. Sometimes you just gotta walk away and let the sun do its thing.

lewis.terry13d ago

Let the sun do its thing" is the real pro tip right there. I've seen so many guys fight a losing battle because they can't stand to wait. That tiny damp spot screams for attention, but touching it is a trap. It takes more patience to walk away than it does to mess it up.

victor77913d ago

My old boss used to say a watched floor never dries. He had a rule about waiting a full hour after you think it's ready before you even look at a patch. I read a forum post once where a guy timed it, and rushing it added like three extra hours of repair work later. That sun is your best helper, but only if you let it finish the job.