Cement Cleanup Question

[mayday0017]

We had a nice sized patio poured 2 days ago and I'm wondering how/when to clean up mess...

There is splatter that got on the bricks and windows of the house I would like to get cleaned up. Anyone have any good tips/tricks the slab is only 48 hours old so I'm hoping cleanup is easier now than waiting just gotta be careful walking on the slab.

Also there are places around the outskirts of the slab that cement went under the forms I would like to clean these up as well so I don't end up with cement in the lawn mower later down the road . Is it ok to go ahead and clean this up as well with like a straight shovel?

Really hate that cement is something I know very little about, just enough to know there is good work and bad work and you can't always tell which you are getting unless you are educated until it starts failing...

 

[mayday0017]

Anyone...? I"m guessing the sooner the better for cleaning it so maybe things won't be as hard

 

[crab]

It isn't cement, it's concrete. Cement is what they make concrete out of. Now I've told you everything I know about it.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

We don't let it dry before clean-up off of other surfaces. We normally protect those before the pour, but pull the protection & check before it has a chance to dry. I don't know of many tricks, since we insist it be done while a wet rag will still clean it up. Our concrete guys are on the pour for finishing anyway, & take care of it while they are there. At this point it will be tough enough. Waiting longer sure won't make it any easier.

As for whatever crept under the forms, go after it soon too. It will be easier while the concrete is still a little green. But don't allow a shovel or other tool to pry against the edge of your new pour. I'd probably take a chisel (Electric since we have one) & knock the pieces off. Or maybe a hammer depending on the space & need for control. But probably more of a hitting tool than a shovel. A heavy chipping bar would do. Be careful of a bad bounce into the new work.

 

[Rookie2]

They have a cleaning solution at the cement supplier (may be muriatic acid) ,& wire brush.

Those mobile strippers that do soda blasting on cars do it !

 

[audioworks04]

Sooner is always better, but if it was me I would call the contractor back to do the clean up. They should have protected the surrounding areas of the pour so that they did not get splatter. A small trowel to scrape off the larger pieces is your best friend followed by a wire brush, be careful with the brush as if you use it too much in one area it will turn the brick/mortar black. Yes, you can clean up any loose concrete with just shovel to the trash. I would use muriatic acid as a last resort as it is will eat the surface off of the concrete.
Lastly as was stated, it is concrete not cement. Cement is just part of the aggregate, sand and water that make up concrete along with other "green" additives they use now-a-days.

 

[NZ0J]

Sooner is always better, but if it was me I would call the contractor back to do the clean up. They should have protected the surrounding areas of the pour so that they did not get splatter. A small trowel to scrape off the larger pieces is your best friend followed by a wire brush, be careful with the brush as if you use it too much in one area it will turn the brick/mortar black. Yes, you can clean up any loose concrete with just shovel to the trash. I would use muriatic acid as a last resort as it is will eat the surface off of the concrete.
Lastly as was stated, it is concrete not cement. Cement is just part of the aggregate, sand and water that make up concrete along with other "green" additives they use now-a-days.

Is this your way of saying you're not a believer in flyash?

 

[audioworks04]

Is this your way of saying you're not a believer in flyash?

I am a believer in it as far as making the cost cheaper and making the working window larger, but it also makes for a surface that is "sticky" while finishing and tends to spal easier than a portland mix. Also for anything decorative fly ash tends to marble and take color and stain in odd ways.