Had a foreman in Omaha teach me something about concrete curing I still use

I was working a big parking lot pour near 72nd Street, maybe 5 years ago, and this old foreman named Bob came over while I was setting up my pressure washing gear. He told me to stop spraying water on fresh concrete to cool it down because it weakens the surface, and instead just let the forms sit and insulate it naturally. I argued with him for a minute until he showed me a 3 year old slab that cracked all over from guys doing the same thing I was trying. Has anyone else run into a simple trick like that from an older worker that saved them time or money?

2 comments

2 Comments

seth_nguyen5d agoMost Upvoted

Ha! Bob's a legend. I learned to wet burlap from an old timer, saved a total patio meltdown.

sullivan.john5d ago

Yeah man, I used to be one of those guys who thought hosing down fresh concrete was the right move. I honestly thought I was being careful and helping it cure slower. But Bob's approach makes so much sense when you think about it - you're basically washing out the surface paste that gives concrete its strength. Now I just set up wind breaks and let the forms do their job, and I've seen way less surface cracking on my pours. It's humbling when an old timer shows you something that simple and you realize you've been doing things backwards for years.