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That new quick-set patch mix from the big box store is a trap

Just had a small repair job go bad on me yesterday afternoon. It was a simple corner patch on a garage floor, maybe 2 square feet. I grabbed a bag of that fast-setting stuff because the homeowner wanted to park on it by evening. Mixed it exactly like the bag said, but the working time was a joke. It started to set up in under 5 minutes, way faster than it said. I barely got it troweled before it turned to gravel, leaving a rough, crumbly finish. I had to chip the whole mess out and start over with my usual vinyl patch, which cost me an extra hour and about $40 in wasted material. Has anyone else run into this with the quick-set products? What's a reliable brand for small repairs that actually gives you the time it promises?
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3 Comments
chen.phoenix
My last quick-set job looked like a toddler's sandcastle. I should have just used actual potatoes.
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kevinjones
kevinjones27d ago
That quick-set stuff is basically instant mashed potato mix.
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the_cora
the_cora2d ago
Yeah, calling it instant mashed potato mix is spot on. It has that same weird, grainy texture when it dries wrong. I've found you really have to mix it way longer than the bag says to get it smooth, otherwise it's just lumps. It sets fast, but sometimes that just means your mistakes are permanent faster.
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