Is it normal for a fresh slab to look this wavy after the crew left?

Low spots on a brand new pour are more than just an eyesore; they're a functional failure that's going to cause you a headache every time it rains. These are called **birdbaths** in the industry. If they're deeper than about an eighth of an inch, it’s a legitimate defect that shouldn't happen on a professional job. It sounds like your crew skipped a crucial pass with the bull float or didn't screed it properly before the mix started to stiffen up. When the concrete sets too fast and they don't work it quickly enough, you get that wavy finish becuase they're just smearing the surface cream instead of leveling the slab.

The ridges near the stakes ussually happen when the finishers pull their forms or stakes and don't bother to go back with a hand float or an edger to clean up the perimeter. That’s just sloppy work. If you paid a premium, you shold have a consistent texture across the whole surface. And the fact that the cream didn't pull to the top suggests they might have added too much water to the truck to make it easier to pour, which weakens the top layer and leads to dusting or scaling later on.

You absolutely need to call the contractor back out before you pay the remaining balance. Grinding down the high spots is a common suggestion, but be aware that grinding exposes the **aggregate**—the actual stones inside the concrete. This means those spots will look like a completly different color and texture compared to the rest of the patio. It’s a visible patch, not a seamless fix.

If the low spots are deep enough to hold significant water, the only real fix is often a re-pour, though most residential contractors will try to talk you out of that. Don't let them tell you it's "within tolerance" if it's clearly holding water. Concrete is a permanent part of your home, and you shouldn't have to settle for a botched finish just to avoid being that person who complains. For a premium price, you deserve a premium finish.

I'm about to start a similar project and this is my biggest fear. I had no idea grinding down high spots whould expose the aggregate—that seems like it would look even patchier than the ridges. If you end up going that route, does a sealer help hide the color difference at all?

Also, how do you acutally measure if a spot is deeper than an eighth of an inch? Do you just wait for rain or use a level? I’d be so nervous trying to call them out on it without knowing exactly what I’m looking at, expecially if they try to brush it off as normal.

You can check the depth easily with a long straightedge and a couple of quarters. If you can slide two stacked quarters under the level without touching it, you've got a puddle waiting to happen. Regarding the sealer, it definitely won't hide the exposed aggregate if they grind it down; if anything, the sealer will make those stones stand out even more against the rest of the grey.

Honestly, the "packing up fast" is the biggest red flag. Sounds like they were working with a hot load—basicly concrete that's already started its chemical set before it even left the truck. Once that happens, you’re just pushing rocks around instead of finishing the surface.