The day a 2 inch low spot made me rethink my whole finishing process

I was pouring a garage slab in El Paso about 6 months ago and everything looked perfect when I floated it. The homeowner came out with his laser level and showed me a 2 inch dip right near the overhead door track. I had been bull floating the same way for 5 years, always starting at the same corner and working straight across. Turns out I was pushing too much material to one side without realizing it. He wasn't even mad, just pointed it out and asked if I could fix it. We had to chip out a 4x4 section and patch it, which took 3 extra hours. I started alternating my float pattern after that and my slabs have been dead flat ever since. Anyone else have a moment where a simple habit was screwing up their work?

3 comments

3 Comments

williamhenderson9d ago

My 4 foot level says 2 inches is a pretty noticeable dip man... are you sure you weren't just pushing mud around and not actually screeding it flat in the first place?

ray_sullivan9d ago

Buddy of mine spent a whole afternoon on a patio pour, bragged about it being dead flat, and then I showed up with my 6 foot level and found a 3 inch low spot by the door. He swore it was fine until I poured a beer on it and watched it all run to one corner.

the_alice9d ago

I started using a long straight 2x4 and checking every couple feet as I went, not just at the end. Also marked my forms with a chalk line at the right height so I had a constant reference while screeding. Saved me a lot of headaches and beer tests later on.