- Push the bull float in one direction only across the concrete, keeping its front edge slightly above the surface by raising or lowering the handle.
- Two or three times is enough.
- Don’t overwork the concrete or you’ll weaken it by drawing too much sand and cement to the surface.
Subsequently, Is it too late to cut control joints? Joints should be sawed as soon as the concrete can withstand the energy of sawing without raveling or dislodging aggregate particles. For most concrete work, cutting should take place within the first 6 to 18 hours and never beyond 24 hours.
How long does it take for 4 inches of concrete to cure? The general rule of thumb is that concrete takes about 28 days to dry for every inch of slab thickness. Within 24 to 48 hours, the concrete will be ready for foot traffic.
Yet, What happens if you overwork concrete? Concrete that is overworked can become dry and cracked. Concrete that is overworked before the bleed water has risen to the surface can trap that extra water within the mix, resulting in future problems with scaling.
Should I wet concrete while curing? ANSWER: Keeping concrete moist helps the curing process. Concrete hardens as a result of a chemical reaction, called hydration, between cement and water, not because it dries. The hardening, or curing, continues as long as moisture remains in the concrete.
How big can a concrete slab be without control joints?
Usually, expansion joints should be no farther apart than 2 to 3 times (in feet) the total width of the concrete (in inches). So for a 4 inch thick concrete slab, expansion joints should be no more than 8 to 12 feet apart.
How deep should control joints be in a 6 inch thick concrete slab?
Concrete control joints should be no less than 1⁄4 of the total thickness of the slab (1” deep for a 4” thick pour) and placed no less than 2-3 times (in feet) the thickness (in inches) of the slab (8-12 feet apart for a 4” thick pour).
How deep should control joints be cut in concrete?
Cut joints 25% of the depth of the slab. A 4″ thick slab should have joints 1″ deep. Groover tools cut joints in fresh concrete. Saw cutting cuts joints as soon as the concrete is hard enough that the edges abutting the cut don’t chip from the saw blade.
How deep should saw cuts be in concrete?
A good rule of thumb is to cut the joints one-quarter to one-third the slab thickness. For a 6-inch-thick slab, that means cutting 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.
Can concrete be too deep?
It is important to keep the cut within the recommended depth. Concrete slabs especially ones used for flooring, pathways, and roads take heavy traffic and heavy loads on a regular basis. If you cut concrete too deep, the interlocking will not be sufficient enough to for transfer of heavy loads.
How often should you put expansion joints in concrete?
Usually, expansion joints should be no farther apart than 2 to 3 times (in feet) the total width of the concrete (in inches). So for a 4 inch thick concrete slab, expansion joints should be no more than 8 to 12 feet apart.
How long should you wait to cut expansion joints in concrete?
Joints should be sawed as soon as the concrete will withstand the energy of sawing without raveling or dislodging aggregate particles. For most concrete mixtures, this means sawing should be completed within the first six to 18 hours and never delayed more than 24 hours.
Can you just bull float concrete?
What happens if you don’t put expansion joints in concrete?
Concrete expansion joints give the slabs just enough room to move which helps prevent cracks & buckling. Without these joints, even a little movement creates pressure and stress on the concrete. Eventually weak spots can crack or buckle. Expansion joints are used to relieve this pressure.
How big can a concrete slab be without expansion joints?
Rule #1 – Keep joints as square as possible. Rule #2 – In order to prevent intermediate cracking, space joints (in feet) no more than 2 – 3 times the slab thickness (in inches).
Can you add expansion joints after concrete is poured?
You can install concrete expansion joints before or after the concrete is laid.
How often should you saw cut concrete?
Cuts should be approx. 2-3 times the thickness of your slab in feet. For example, a 6” slab would have cuts 12′ – 18′ apart. This is strictly a guideline to work from.
Do you push or pull a concrete saw?
Always let the saw do the work; simply guide its direction, but don’t push it down into the concrete. You only need a quarter-inch cut at this point, but if the saw bites in a bit deeper, that’s fine too. This first guided cut will ensure you keep your cuts straight during the rest of the project.
What happens if you cut concrete too late?
Cutting freshly poured concrete too late can lead to unwanted cracks in the concrete, rendering the joints ineffective. Too early and the concrete will not have cured enough to support the saw and operator.
