Small win: that old trowel trick actually worked on a tricky garage floor today

I was finishing a 20x30 garage slab outside Phoenix and the sun was cooking it faster than I could get a smooth surface. A guy I met at a supply house told me to keep a spray bottle with a mix of water and dish soap to lightly mist the concrete before my final pass. It bought me an extra couple minutes of working time and the finish came out way better than usual. Anyone else got a goofy trick like that for hot weather pours?

2 comments

2 Comments

sandrap401mo ago

Vinegar trick" sounds risky. My concrete supplier said it can weaken the mix if you get the ratio wrong.

avery_foster311mo ago

Did you hear about that guy out in California who swears by adding a little bit of vinegar to his mix for summer pours? I read somewhere that it slows down the set just enough to keep you from panicking when the suns beating down. Seems like a weird idea but if it saves a slab it might be worth trying on a small patch first.