I used to think wetting the forms was just old timer superstition

For my first 3 years pouring driveways in Austin, I never bothered spraying down my forms before a pour. I figured it was just some old habit that didn't matter. Then about a year ago I got a call from a homeowner saying the edge of their brand new walkway was cracking and flaking. Went back to look and sure enough, the dry wood had sucked all the moisture out of the edges before the concrete even set. Now I take 10 minutes to hose everything down before the truck shows up, even on small jobs. It's not a huge change but it saved me from having to explain why their edges look like crap. Has anyone else had a dry form ruin their finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_lee17d ago

Yeah I was the same way honestly. First few years I never bothered with it and thought the old guys were just wasting time. Then I had a job where the edges dried out way too fast and looked like crap. Changed my mind real quick.

the_linda17d agoProlific Poster

The edges drying out was what got me too @the_lee, changed my whole view on it.