Help!!

D

Derek Belden

New member
Today i had a job to do all the concrete around a house and their pool. So, i got everything out and set it up, well, as soon as i started to use my surface cleaner the sand started flying! it was straight concrete dust. Needless to say i stopped immediately. also, where i started the surface cleaner it etched the cement. Was this just some really weak cement or is it something i did?? Yalls opinions are greatly welcomed!!
 
PICS we need PICS
 
I am no expert but sounds like the concrete has never been cleaned and prob had alot of sand in it when it was mixed prior to pouring. Therefore the sand you are getting off is not bonded in the concrete.
As far as the etching you did, I woud be careful but try to blend it out so it is not as noticeable.
Is my thought correct or am I wrong about this? Would love to hear other opinions on this myself.
 
This is one of many, many reasons that you should do a test spot in an area that is not seen often to see what will come off (weak concrete) or how much pressure it will take (weak concrete), if it is a bad job, etc....

There is so much cheap quality work being done all over, you just never know.

That is why I always do a test spot before using the surface cleaner, hard to find good quality concrete these days on anything 10 years old or newer.
 
Issues to be aware of: Poor Concrete, New Concrete, Allowing the surface cleaner to stand still while running, Pressure Too High, Use of the wrong Chemicals etc. Always do a test in an inconspicuous area. As Gene told you pictures would help. If you need help getting the pictures up ask one of the moderators for help.
 
All the new Concrete I'm getting here in Reno SUCKS, You can not put much pressure on it or it will mark BIG TIME. All the older centers I have can take pressure like no other but anything 5 years or newer here is POOR QUALITY and getting worse, same as the paving and seal they are doing, it is all cheap crap.
 
Terry Campbell said:
All the new Concrete I'm getting here in Reno SUCKS, You can not put much pressure on it or it will mark BIG TIME. All the older centers I have can take pressure like no other but anything 5 years or newer here is POOR QUALITY and getting worse, same as the paving and seal they are doing, it is all cheap crap.
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I'm seeing the same thing here in Texas. The concrete is whiter than it was a few years ago. The white cream is so thin and britttle a recent hail storm knocked it off of a couple restraunts i clean.
 
Terry Campbell said:
All the new Concrete I'm getting here in Reno SUCKS, You can not put much pressure on it or it will mark BIG TIME. All the older centers I have can take pressure like no other but anything 5 years or newer here is POOR QUALITY and getting worse, same as the paving and seal they are doing, it is all cheap crap.
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Same thing here in vegas. The concrete they use here in new construction outright stinks. We found that using cold water and chemical to clean new pours works awesome. We only use heat to detail, never to clean the entire surface of a new pour. It's Pretty pathetic to see companies out here trying to pass off etching and striping as a good job.
 
thanks for all the replies. I went back this morning and yes, the problem is just weak concrete. It was poored about a year ago and it seems like the cement company will poor anything as long as they get a check. This is ridiculous! the price of cement is steadily goin up but the quality is steadily declining!:mad:
 
Most times the concrete is ruined by the contractor at the site. I'm sure it's worse in warmer climates. Contractors add water to extend the work time especially if they are short on help. Adding water greatly reduces the strength of concrete. Almost all concrete is computer batch controlled and goes into the truck in the right formulation or slump.

Many times bad concrete contractors also work the concrete too soon even if they didn't add water. If the bleed water on top of a new poor isn't allowed to evaporate it will be worked into the top layer and it will cause the surface to be very weak. It's just a very diluted form of the concrete. Looks normal when finished but probably takes your 3,500 psi concrete surface down to less than 1,000.

The other problem is what they call a hot load. The concrete was over ordered at another site set there spinning for too long. They divert it to another customer so they don't have to dump it and it starts setting up way too fast and they add water. Making concrete is a chemical reaction adding water can alter that a little but eventually it sets up.

When times are good and work is plentiful the bad contractors come out like flies.
 
About 75% of the concrete here is junk.
 
Danny Bates said:
I'm seeing the same thing here in Texas. The concrete is whiter than it was a few years ago. The white cream is so thin and britttle a recent hail storm knocked it off of a couple restraunts i clean.
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That's pretty bad!
 
Sometimes the concrete is a lesser mix say 2500 psi instead of 3000 psi it saves the concrete guy money.It could be green or new concrete anything younger than 6 months old BEWARE!It could have been the finish on it if it was deeply brushed it will come up quick, if it was a floated or smooth finish it is hard as can be.

All the other things come into play to tips,etc like the guys said before.Cleaning concrete is easy ain't it!
 
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