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Got schooled on a big pour in Phoenix about using a magnesium float too early.
We were finishing a warehouse floor, about 8000 square feet, and it was hot as hell. I started using the mag right after the bull float like I always did. This old timer who was just watching from the fence line came over and said, 'Kid, you're pulling water up and making it weak. Wait for the bleed water to go away first.' I argued but tried it on a small section. The finish was way harder and didn't dust up later. Now I always watch for that sheen to disappear before I even touch the mag. How long do you guys usually wait on a hot, dry day?
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perez.mia5mo ago
Man, that old timer saved you a ton of trouble. I learned that the hard way on a driveway in July. Rushed the mag float because the boss was pushing, and the whole surface was just chalk a month later. On a hot dry day like that, I'm watching it like a hawk. Sometimes it feels like forever, maybe 20, 30 minutes after the bleed water comes up. You just have to wait for that wet look to totally go away, even if it means standing around. It feels wrong to wait when you're sweating, but it makes all the difference.
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brian8655mo ago
My first boss in Florida told me to wait 15 minutes after the bleed water. @perez.mia is totally right that it feels wrong to just stand there, but rushing it wrecks the finish. I don't cut that corner anymore.
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