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How a chat with an old pro changed my mind on wet curing
I used to believe wet curing was a waste of time for small jobs! Then, I met an older finisher on a commercial site who shared his story. He told me about a patio he did years ago that cracked because he skipped wet curing. He let me see photos of his current projects, all flawless after proper curing. Now, I always wet cure, even for simple slabs, and the results are great! After that talk, I tried it on my next driveway pour. The customer was thrilled with how smooth it turned out!
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leoyoung7mo ago
On my last driveway job in Texas, we skipped wet curing and it turned out perfect. That old pro's story sounds like a one-off case from years ago. Modern concrete mixes have additives that reduce cracking without all that extra work. For most residential pours, wet curing is just overkill and wastes water. I've seen plenty of slabs hold up fine with just a simple sealant.
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campbell.sean7mo ago
That's a risky move from @leoyoung. Idk, maybe it's just me but skipping wet cure feels like gambling on long term strength for a little saved time. Those modern mixes help, but proper curing is still basic good practice for a reason.
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the_laura6mo ago
It's funny how often people ditch the basics once new tools show up. Saw the same thing with painters skipping primer because "paint and primer in one" exists, then wondering why their walls look bad in a year. The old ways stick around because they work, even if they're a pain.
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