Saw a finisher using a dry sponge on fresh concrete yesterday

I was on a job site in Austin and watched a guy try to smooth a 400 sq ft patio with a sponge that had zero water in it. He ended up dragging dry craters across the whole surface before the foreman stopped him. Am I wrong for thinking a wet sponge is basic knowledge in this trade?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

avery_roberts675mo ago

Wait, you can actually use a dry sponge on concrete? I always thought you had to soak it first or you'd ruin the finish. That patio must have looked awful with those craters. Guess I learned something new today.

6

samf955mo ago

Did the foreman at least make him grind the whole thing down and start over? A dry sponge on fresh concrete is like trying to sand wood with a brick.

4