In my basement this last weekend, I bought 25-60lb bags of pre-mix concrete general use. I mixed two bags at a time with approx. 1.25 gallons of water, the instructions called for 1/2 gallon per bag, no more than .75 gallon per bag. I mixed it with a shovel for about 5 minutes or until I couldn't see any more dry mix. It was definitely not runny and not dry but seemed just right. I tried to use a steel trowel to smooth it after I couldn't see any more sheen or water which the instructions said, but I couldn't get it smooth. It seemed too textured, rocky, maybe I waited too long before I started smoothing it. Well, now its day 3 of curing, I took a broom to the new concrete and swept up a couple dustpans full of small pebbles and small mix particles. The texture of the concrete seems rougher than ever now. I took a hose and wetted it down. From just picking at the top surface with my finger, I can pick out small pebbles and little crumbles of concrete. It makes me pretty upset, I followed all the instructions to a T, but now I doubt whether I did this right, any idea why this is happening, why it's so coarse, rough looking, why I can just pick away at the top and it crumbles off after 3 days of curing? Its 3" thick in my basement and I didn't have any fun doing this job in the first place. In the end it will be covered up by some leveling compound and tile, but I just want to make sure this isn't going to crumble away underneath everything to only be replaced in a few years. The instructions call for 5 days of curing, maybe I am too impatient. Thanks for any help!
- posted
18 years ago