Who or what to blame?

[Jollygoodfellow]

9 hours ago, lobojohn said:

we always had burlap sacks to put over the concrete and then would wet them down just to slow the setting process down. allowing concrete to set and dry too quickly can and will cause it to turn to dust much faster than properly dried concrete.

In Australia the norm would be to cover the slab with black plastic. Thr plastic keeps the moisture in plus sweats. In other cases we would place sand around the edges on top of the concrete and fill with water for several days. Whatever method its to prevent cracking more than anything. Generally going to powder means lack of cement or bad mix. Could even be salt in the sand if using cheap sand. 

Hint, to remove the top layer of slurry for a stone affect mix sugar and water. When concrete smooth using a watering can to drench the top and hose off. Of Course these days you can buy chemicals but sugar kills the cement so works the same. 

[lobojohn]

40 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

In Australia the norm would be to cover the slab with black plastic. Thr plastic keeps the moisture in plus sweats. In other cases we would place sand around the edges on top of the concrete and fill with water for several days. Whatever method its to prevent cracking more than anything. Generally going to powder means lack of cement or bad mix. Could even be salt in the sand if using cheap sand. 

Hint, to remove the top layer of slurry for a stone affect mix sugar and water. When concrete smooth using a watering can to drench the top and hose off. Of Course these days you can buy chemicals but sugar kills the cement so works the same. 

right.. the variables are many.. and proper concrete isnt concrete w/o steel . some people dont know that it seems. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

4 hours ago, lobojohn said:

right.. the variables are many.. and proper concrete isnt concrete w/o steel . some people dont know that it seems. 

The variables are not much at all. Different methods yes. Reinforcement as in mesh as we call it or deformed bars and foundation cages yes definitely required but having said that when coming down to things like a pathway it depends on the soil. I grew up in a part of Australia that was notorious for clay and moving soils so even a path had to have reinforcement with mesh or bars but later in life moving to another part of Australia there was no steel put in paths as the soil never moved and was not needed. Not sure about here in the Phils if requirements change from island to island but I bet if you are laying concrete on a sand island minimum reinforcement is needed or none depending on the job. 

Oh when you say some dont know that concrete without steel is not proper concrete who do you mean?  I can look anywhere out my window and see so much steel going into buildings here. 

Edited May 25, 2018 by Jollygoodfellow
added wee bit

[Jack Peterson]

20 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

and time to start on the bar l guess

Done At the far end of the table

[stevewool]

Beautiful house inside and out.