Old timer told me to wet the forms before pouring...

Met this guy Larry at the job site last week, he must be pushing 70. He told me to always hose down my wooden forms right before the pour, said it stops the wood from sucking the moisture out of the concrete. I always thought it was dumb extra work, but I tried it on a patio slab over in Riverside. The edge finished way cleaner and I had less cracking along the form lines. Never would have believed it if I didn't see it myself. Anybody else do this or is it just an old school thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretramirez1mo ago

Wait, did you always think it was a waste of water too? I was exactly the same way, thought it was just old timers being fussy. But I tried it on a small retaining wall last month and the difference was crazy. The concrete right up against the form didn't have that dry, crumbly look it usually gets. It all made sense after that, Larry knew what he was talking about for sure. It's one of those little tricks that just works.

the_piper1mo ago

Here's the thing though, I've skipped it for years and never saw a lick of difference on my jobs.

the_terry1mo ago

Ha, "old timer told me" is usually code for "I'm about to hear some voodoo that actually works." Larry sounds like he's been pouring concrete since before I was born. I used to think wetting forms was just a way to burn time and water, but I gave it a shot on a sidewalk last month. That edge near the form came out glass smooth, no spiderweb cracks. Guess old Larry knows a thing or two. Or maybe it's beginners luck. Either way I'm hosing down my lumber from now on.