Rant: Tried a different mix for a small patio and the finish set way too fast

Had a small job for a patio in Springfield last Tuesday. Decided to try a bag mix with a little extra cement for strength. It was maybe 10% more than usual. The day got hot, around 90 degrees. The surface started to crust over in under 20 minutes. Could barely get a decent edge on it before it was too hard. Anyone have a good trick for slowing down the set on hot days besides just water?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_henry1mo ago

My buddy lost a whole driveway pour that way. He swears by a splash of dish soap in the mix water now, says it buys you time.

webb.daniel1mo ago

Dish soap is a wild move, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Seen guys use it for hot weather pours on sidewalks. It breaks the surface tension so the water doesn't evaporate as fast. You get maybe an extra 20 minutes to work it before it sets up. Wouldn't try it on a big job without testing first though.

barbarah191mo ago

Ever tried dish soap and ended up with a bubbly mess? I did that once on a small patio slab. Looked like a bubble bath set up. @the_henry's buddy is right, it can save a pour, but you gotta get the amount just right. Too much and the mix gets weak and foamy. I learned the hard way, spent an hour trying to trowel out all the suds. Now I just stick to proper retarder for anything bigger than a stepping stone.