How to Fix Wet Concrete When it Gets Rained on

Act quickly to save concrete that gets rained on.

It is always best to pour concrete when you know that the weather conditions are going to be accommodating. Unfortunately, a day that starts off perfect for pouring concrete can turn into a disaster in the blink of an eye. If your recently poured concrete has gotten wet, the surface can turn powdery and soft. Reacting quickly to the situation is your best chance for saving the concrete, your time and your money.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• House siding piece
• Power washer
• Acrylic concrete sealer
• Paint tray
• Paint roller

Instructions

1. Act quickly to remove excess water. Drag a garden hose slowly over the surface to drag of the excess water. Repeat until you can get no more water off.

2. Take a spare piece of house siding and use it to remove excess water and then level the still-wet concrete. Have a friend hold one side as you both drag the siding across the length of the concrete surface.

3. If the concrete has already set, pressure wash the surface of the concrete. Use a nozzle with a fanned tip and thoroughly wash the entire surface.

4. Pour an acrylic concrete sealer into a paint tray and use a paint roller to apply the sealer evenly over the concrete.

References

• This Old House: Fixing Dusty Concrete