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Finally got the hang of that exposed aggregate mix for a patio in Phoenix last week, and the client tipped me an extra $100.
The key was spraying the retarder at just the right time before the morning sun hit it, which is something my old boss in Tucson always said but I never fully got until now. Anyone else have a go-to method for timing that wash on a hot day?
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the_jason2mo ago
Spraying the retarder at the right time is everything. On a really hot morning, I'll sometimes do two lighter passes instead of one heavy spray. First pass right after the finish, second one just before I plan to wash. It buys you a little extra window if the heat comes up faster than you thought. Lets the top layer set up just enough so the aggregate doesn't get pulled out. Messed that up once and had to grind down a whole section. Never again.
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haydenp952mo ago
Disagree on the double spray method honestly. Watched a crew try that last summer and it left weird streaks in the finish when they washed it off. Seems like you're just adding another variable that can go wrong. I'd rather get up earlier and get the single heavy spray timing perfect, even if it means starting in the dark.
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iris39414d ago
Oh man, you're speaking my language there with the two lighter passes thing. I learned that one the hard way too after I tried to rush a job in Tempe and ended up with half the pebbles popping out like they were trying to escape the concrete. Now I do almost exactly what you described, first pass light to lock it in, then a second one right before the wash if I can feel the heat starting to creep up. The timing on that second spray is everything though, too late and you're fighting it, too early and you might as well have just done one heavy coat. Getting it right feels like winning a small battle every time though, especially when the client throws in extra cash like yours did.
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