Was I the only one finishing concrete wrong for years?

I used to always go over my concrete with a steel trowel right after floating it, thinking it made the surface harder. Then an old foreman on a job in Denver pointed out I was actually trapping moisture and causing that fine cracking we call crazing. He told me to back off on the steel trowel and use a magnesium float instead for most residential slabs. Has anyone else had a moment like this where you realized you were making a common mistake?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_green551mo ago

That "fine cracking" you call crazing, is it even a real problem for most driveways?

christopherwilson1mo ago

My buddy's driveway, @jesse_green55, turned into a total spiderweb last year.

finley_price2425d ago

Ever notice how nobody talks about what's underneath the concrete when this happens? All that fine cracking usually starts from the ground shifting or poor base prep, not just the surface. If your buddy's driveway turned into a spiderweb, chances are the dirt or gravel underneath wasn't packed down right before they poured. Most folks stare at the cracks and blame the concrete mix, but the real problem is usually hiding six inches down.