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Shoutout to the old timer who told me to wet the forms first
Been doing concrete for about 4 years now and always just poured into dry forms. Last month on a patio job in Austin, an old finisher named Ray walked by and said "son, you're sucking the water right out of the mix." I wetted down the forms and the next pour came out way smoother with almost no honeycombing. Has anyone else tried this vs just going in dry?
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joelp812mo ago
Son, you're sucking the water right out of the mix." Sounds like an episode of Concrete CSI.
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sean_walker452mo ago
Read in an old concrete manual that wetting forms prevents moisture loss from the mix.
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charliehill27d ago
Read a study from the Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association a few years back. They tested pours with dry forms versus wet ones. The dry forms sucked out almost a gallon of water per yard of concrete near the edge. That explains the honeycombing and weak spots I used to get. Wetting the forms is just common sense once you see the numbers. Saves you from having to patch up edges later too. Simple trick but it makes a huge difference in the finish.
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