New Layed Cement !! It's started to crack, why ?

Question

I mixed 4 sharp sand to1 cement and laid it outside at about 2 1/2" deep and an area of around 1 square metre. It has big cracks across it but it's still a bit damp. Anyway to save it ?

I am an expat living in Turkey and it has been sunny today. Is it drying to fast ?

Answer 1

Possible to much water  ( soupy mix) and it s shrinking to much .. Poss a combo  of all  GL

Answer 2

Drying out too fast,Cover it up.

Answer 3

correct, try and skim it back  by adding some water on the surface, then cover with plastic to keep the water from evaporating , tomorrow morning lift the plastic drench with wter then cover again with plastic same at night do this for three days

Answer 4

Drying too quick, cover with wet sacking or such like.

Answer 5

you cant just pour it and leave it ...you have to keep troweling it until hard  and then cover it and let it cure slowly....2 1/2 in. is not very thick either...and some gravel for ballast wouldnt have hurt either...so it started to crack because you didn't know what you were doing...

Answer 6

Fast drying likely problem.

If its still wet tamp the crack out and try to cover it with damp hessian or fabric, it may leave rub marks in the concrete but it will also shade it, slowing the curing process.

If already a little stiff VERY lightly spray the surface of concrete with a watering can with a rose attachment before re-tamping.

In the future try and lay concrete early in the morning or late at night, if at all possible, as I doubt Turkey has many shady days!

Answer 7

It was poured too wet (too much water in the mix) and/or it is drying much too fast or the ground you poured it on was not compacted sufficiently first.

Bert

Answer 8

It's probably drying too fast and it sounds too thin.

What are you trying to do here? Is this a footing for a barbecue or something?

You may find other problems later on if you do not correct them now.

If you just used sand and cement, it may be too brittle - quite a bit of sand used - and some 18mm gravel (ballast) could have helped stabilise it for you.

Answer 9

Yes It's dried out too fast.You need to put a plastic membrane down before you lay it and that will retain the water and stop it draining away into the ground.You should also cover it with dampened hessian to prevent the sun from evaporating the water too quickly.

Answer 10

Usually go 3 sand to 1 cement. Cover with bag or something.

Mixture of sand to cement was too high, and the direct sun and heat have caused it to cure too quickly.

Try again  3:1 ratio, and cover it with wet burlap. Should probably go to 4" thickness.

Good Luck