Old timer told me to wet the subgrade before pouring

Guy named Rick with 30 years in the biz swore up and down we needed to hose down the dirt before the pour on a driveway job in Austin last month. I thought it was a waste of time and water, but he insisted. Ended up with way less cracking and the slab held moisture better during the cure. Has anyone else run into old school tricks that actually work better than the modern way?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_lucas20d ago

You ever see a guy just dump water on a hot slab and it turns into a steam bath? That happened to me on a patio pour in July. I figured the ground was dry enough, but after we poured, the bottom of the slab sucked the moisture out way too fast. Ended up with hairline cracks along the edges. Next time I wet the subgrade down real good, let it soak in, then poured. Slab came out smooth, no cracks. Sometimes the old timers know what they're talking about, even if it feels like extra work.

rodriguez.diana20d ago

I get what you're saying but I had the opposite experience. Wetted my subgrade too heavy one time and ended up with a muddy mess under the slab. Took forever to get the concrete to set right and it left a rough texture on the bottom side. I think there's a fine line between damp and soaked. If it's just a light misting with a hose that's fine, but soaking it for hours like some guys do? Not for me.