Discovered a cheap trick for fixing cold joints

I had a big slab pour last Tuesday near Spokane and got a cold joint along the edge where we stopped for lunch. Instead of grinding it out or patching with expensive epoxy, I tried wetting the old concrete and brushing on a thin slurry of cement and water before pouring the new stuff. Worked better than I expected, the joint line is barely visible now. Has anyone else used this trick or got a better method?

2 comments

2 Comments

diana551d ago

Did you drink a beer first or was this a sober decision? I'm asking because I tried this exact trick once and ended up with a slurry slick that looked like my cat threw up on the driveway. But hey, if it worked for you, I might give it another shot when I'm feeling brave and my morning coffee kicks in.

kellyj231d ago

Oh man, you're probably right lol. I was mostly sober, just a little tired and stubborn. The first time I tried it I ended up with a lumpy mess that looked like oatmeal with gravel mixed in. But this time I let it sit a few minutes before spreading, and I used way less water. My driveway still looks like a construction site but at least it's not a biohazard anymore.