I used to laugh at guys who swore by magnesium floats for interior slabs

For years, I thought a steel darby and a good bull float were all you needed on any flatwork job. Then I took a crew lead spot on a big warehouse floor pour in Spokane, about 12,000 square feet. The boss insisted we try magnesium floats he had bought, saying they cut down on bleed water issues. I rolled my eyes but used them. The difference was real. The magnesium didn't drag or pull at the surface like steel can when the concrete is still tender. It gave a much smoother, closed finish with fewer passes, and we actually finished a section faster. I was totally wrong to dismiss them. Now I keep one in my truck for most interior jobs. What's a tool or method you guys were skeptical about that actually won you over?

2 comments

2 Comments

eva_adams681d ago

Wait, 12,000 square feet in one pour? That's a monster slab.

king.aaron1d agoTop Commenter

Yeah @eva_adams68, that's a crazy amount of concrete. Just picturing the crew trying to finish that before it sets up gives me a headache. Imagine the logistics for something that big, like keeping all the trucks moving and the pour consistent across the whole area. One little delay and you've got a cold joint in the middle of a football field sized slab. That's a serious day of work for everyone involved.