Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

the little piece I poured today is cured enough so rain won't hurt it. I even sprayed it down once with the hose.
the longer you keep it wet, the better it cures.. five days of wet is what they recommend. It will be in direct sunlight only for a couple of hours each day. so keeping it wet shouldn't be a problem.
......jiminwisc......

I know, but you don't want it all wet right after you pour it.

 

[jvls1942]

I know, but you don't want it all wet right after you pour it.

I don't like rain to hit it while it is still soft. then it leaves craters like the moon

after it is too set to trowel, then you can wet it down.

it is naturally wet from the water you mixed it with. wetting it down just prevents that water from evaporating too fast.
.....jiminwisc.....

 

[aart]

after it is too set to trowel, then you can wet it down.

Yes, then the rain is good!
You want it to stay wet while it cures(14-28 days) or it won't be as strong.
Longer it's wet/damp the stronger it will be,
if you had a good mix to being with-nothing will fix a bad mix.

 

[jvls1942]

I am not too concerned about how strong it will
be. it is just a hard floor in the shed I will build. nothing heavier than a riding lawnmower going in there.
after the initial couple of wet downs, I will rely on the rain until I get the walls up and the roof on.
i didn't even trowel it much, just enough to get some slop on top so I could brush it.
........jiminwisc...

 

[aart]

I am not too concerned about how strong it will

Was just speaking of concrete in general, used to do sculpture with it.
Many don't understand it needs to 'cure' rather than 'dry'.
Curing is a chemical process and without moisture it will stop.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Only thing i did for the coop today was to buy some hardware. It was great to be in the ac for most of the day. Went out to what is left of the garden and pulled weeds, wired up another line around the garden for the electric fence. Tomorrow i will be back working on the coop.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Or maybe not... husband is trying to caulk the log home we bought. Lots to be done. I might help him tomorrow. After all, caulking is so much fun! We did get a little bit of rain tonight, so i will see if the coop floor is still dry in the morning. Maybe i will work half the day at each job.

 

[aart]

We did get a little bit of rain tonight, so i will see if the coop floor is still dry in the morning.

Remember to look 'up' too
Caulking is fun?!? You're kidding, right?

 

[User395221]

Caulking is fun?!? You're kidding, right?

She must have gone troppo working out in the sun every day.

 

[aart]

She must have gone troppo working out in the sun every day.

Another aussie slang term I had to google...tho it meant what I thought.
Not complaining, I love words and their cultural/colloquial differences/coinages!