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Rant: My biggest pour taught me to trust the cure time
I was on a tight deadline last week and almost began finishing before the concrete was ready. I waited an extra hour, and the finish came out perfect, saving me rework later. How do you all judge when it's the right time to begin floating?
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jennifer_stone6mo ago
My old foreman always said to use the thumbprint test. Press your thumb in, and if it leaves a light mark but doesn't sink, you're good to go. It's saved me more than once.
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evanjohnson6mo ago
That thumbprint test jennifer_stone talked about seems reliable, but I've had it not work right in changing weather. High humidity can mess with how the concrete dries, so the thumb mark might lie. On a really hot day, the surface feels set but the base is still too wet. How do you change up the thumbprint method for stuff like rain or heat waves? I usually lay down a walk board to test it again because a wrong call costs me half a day. What's your move when the usual tests don't match the conditions?
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patricia_rivera6mo ago
Learn from my impatient past, I rushed once and created modern art instead of a floor, so now I swear by @jennifer_stone's thumbprint test.
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