Shoutout to the old-timer who told me to stop overworking my concrete

I was doing a driveway pour in Austin last spring, and this guy maybe 70 years old walks over from the house next door. He just watched me for a minute and said, 'Son, you're killing it with that trowel, let it breathe.' I was trying to get this perfect finish before it set, but he made me step back for 20 minutes. Came back and it floated out way smoother than anything I'd rushed before. Anybody else ever had a random stranger give advice that actually worked out?

3 comments

3 Comments

lucasschmidt9h ago

Had the exact same thing happen on a patio in San Antonio. Old mason walked by and told me to quit fighting the concrete and let it bleed out before I touched it again. I argued for a second till he pointed at my edges starting to crust. Stepped back for 15 minutes even though it felt like forever. Came back and that cream just rolled right over everything with barely any effort. Now I always wait for that water sheen to disappear before my final pass.

taylor128h ago

Quit fighting the concrete is basically relationship advice for anyone who overthings things. Next time my girlfriend's mad I'm just gonna let her bleed out for 15 minutes.

josepha326h ago

Has anyone here actually tried this with a tough pour? I had a similar situation with a driveway that was starting to crust over, and stepping back for that little break made all the difference. The surface came out smooth as glass once I stopped rushing and let the water do its thing.