As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Hey everyone, I'm hoping to get some advice. I've been trying my hand at a small concrete project (a stepping stone path in the garden), and I'm running into a frustrating issue: the concrete keeps cracking. I've tried two different batches now, following the instructions on the concrete mix bag pretty closely, but both ended up with hairline cracks within a couple of days.
I'm using a standard pre-mixed concrete from a big box store, adding water as directed. The weather has been relatively mild, high 60s to low 70s during the day, so I don't think temperature is the sole culprit.I'm letting them cure in the shade, and I even tried misting one batch with water a few times a day to keep it moist.
Could it be the type of concrete I'm using? Is there a specific ratio of water to mix that works best in these smaller DIY projects? Or am I overlooking something wholly obvious? Any suggestions or tips from experienced DIYers would be greatly appreciated! Maybe things like using a concrete strengthener, or making sure to compact the mix really well when pouring? I'm open to any insights to avoid these cracks in the future.