Comments on: Stepping Stones: 6 Steps to the Perfect Path

By: Randall

Randall — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 01:19:07 +0000

Thanks Danny.
I should add that besides using very little water and making the concrete very stiff not runny, once it sets within a couple of hours or so and the excess water on the surface goes away, this is when you can trowel it or rake it with a broom. Once that is done you will want to keep the concrete piece covered with plastic sheeting for several days to cure.
If you’ve ever seen concrete that crumbled, cracked or spalled, chances are it was lousy concrete, too much water and dumped in place then allowed to dry out rapidly. Such methods to making concrete result in concrete about as hard and strong as chalk. It’s critical to keep the concrete well covered with plastic and periodically- at least once a day pull the plastic off and put some clean water on the entire surface of the concrete, then lay the plastic back.
When I pour concrete outside around the house, the basement floor, dog run etc as I have, I leave the new concrete under plastic and kept wet for 7 days. Once it’s dry, about 30 or 60 days later you can apply concrete sealer.
None of my concrete has ever cracked or spalled with this method and 7 day regimin.

Randall,
Randall’s Lost New York City, a sculpture studio and web gallery of demolished 19th century NYC buildings.

By: Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:16:21 +0000

Good point Randall. It’s so tempting to dig right into cement with your bare hands but it can hurt. Latex gloves are a good idea.

By: Randall

Randall — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:27:11 +0000

Don’t forget, that when working with cement use very little water, do not get cement on your skin- wear latex gloves if you might, and don’t breath in the dust.

Cement dust and wet cement are extremely caustic and causes burns not unlike sunburn.

Years ago before I learned the trade, I mixed cement with my bare hands as I did plaster all the time, within hours my hands were burning and had microscopic cuts from the sand in the cement, it was very uncomfortable and chapped the skin like nothing else.

Randall,
Randall’s Lost New York City, a sculpture studio and web gallery of demolished 19th century NYC buildings.