Home Improvement Today?

Well this will be a fun one. The other day wife noticed a big pool of water in the utility room. Thought it was just a drain line from our RO unit but that I bumped while doing some other work. But looks like that wasn't it



Of course it's in the best possible spot being behind the storage tank lol.



Luckily this section of drain is only the dishwasher, kitchen sink, washer machine, and the utility room sink. So no human waste to deal with.

I am HOPING it's just the rubber connector piece that goes from the elbow through the concrete (cast I believe) to the PVC pipe.

If it's not things are going to get rather interesting rather quick lol

 

I'm redoing this front little planter section. I hate holly bushes so I winched this one out. I'm going to dump a gallon of ground clear in the hole to help with the rest of the off shoots.

 

I noticed my irrigation emitters were running this morning at about 9am non stop since 1-2am when they're supposed to turn on for 5 minutes and then shut off. The control box didn't stop them, so I tried shutting the house water valve off, which of course shuts off all the water to the house. Thankfully, they shut off after that and after a quick one minute test they seem to be working normal. I'm hoping it was just some dirt in the valve.

On the plus side it's going to be 110 all week, so my plants will be happy. However, my wallet won't when the water bill arrives.

 

I had cement poured Thursday and it's still shiny like it's wet.

I this normal? They added more water to the top to prevent drying to quick from the heat and direct sunlight.

 

Yes sounds normal

 

Does this mean it's not dry or it can be dry and shiny?

The building of the cinder block porch is supposed to continue on Monday.

 

Mine was poured Friday, turned white Sat morning.

 

Concrete cures. Slowly. This is best.

Does not dry purely by evaporation.

 

I tried but can't figure out how to post them. Trying to capture the shine but it doesn't come through on pics. I took the pics with my Tab S, Wifi connection only.

It look like black ice but white on cement.

 

Mine turned white in the early evening with dark patches here and there. By the next evening it was mostly white.

 

Hopefully it's cured enough to build on, Monday.

I hate to see what it look like under the forms.

 

Im thinking you will be fine with the curing process

 

Just for the peace of mind I'm going to use a paper towel to blot the cement to see if the towel get wet. Then if dry then touch to see if I can leave finger marks. I'm not going to stand on it.

 

In general, remember the numbers 2, 7 and 28.

• Concrete cures 24-48 hours after setting to a strength where you can walk on it.
• Concrete cures 7 days after setting to a strength where you can drive some vehicle traffic over it.
• Concrete cures 28+ days after setting to its fullest strength.

The curing process is when the material reaches its specific parameters for its application. So if you’ve got an outdoor loading dock and you want to put concrete down for truck traffic, that is going to have a specific parameter for performance. You design the mix for that use and then you need to give that mix the optimal conditions for proper curing so that it reaches those parameters.

Concrete strength depends on the growth of microscopic crystal-like structures within the concrete. The crystals are what bind the different aggregates together. It’s the “cement” part of the concrete. These crystals grow from hydration. When the Portland Cement hits water, the hydration begins. If there isn’t enough water, the crystals can’t grow and the concrete doesn’t develop the strength it should.

 

I think the cement curing would be farther along if there wasn't a roof overhead creating shade. In a way the shade maybe a good thing.

Monday will be 4 days drying. Hopefully the porch will be constructed tomorrow, Depending on the cinder blocks delivery.

 

Does the wet look means anything, If it's dry to the touch?

 

Outside temp can affect it also. 4 days should be dry. What color is the concrete now?

 

Mostly white, with dark patches. The finish is rough because the contractor says the cement/block will hold better.