Quickcrete cure time before mortar bed

[cwilde72]

Helper and I filled in the 12"x12" access hole in slab yesterday with Quickcrete and set the kerdi drain. My helper is a concrete worker by trade and mixed the mud pretty wet. We went with it anyway tho. My hopes were to do the mud bed today but the cement is still wet. It doesn't move but is still dark with moisture. Should I wait for it to cure first or would I be ok putting the mud bed down? Quickcrete is about 3 1/2"- 4" thick. Hoping for some quick responses here cuz I'm at a standstill. Thanks!!

[cx]

Won't hurt to place the deck mud now, Chad.

Originally Posted by Chad

My helper is a concrete worker by trade and mixed the mud pretty wet.

Sounds like he needs to join a Concrete Your World Internet forum and get himself a little education.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[cwilde72]

Thanks CX! That's what I was hoping to here. Yeah, he's only been doing concrete his whole life. I can't wait to do this mud bed with him cuz he can't even fathom the thought of dry-pack. Thanks again!

[Hammy]

Chad, dont let him screw it up ( the mud bed ) by mixing it TOO wet. He already messed up one time where it didnt really matter. Next time it will matter. Remember he is a concrete man not a mud man. Concrete men think more water makes it work easier.


Hammy

[cx]

Originally Posted by Hammy

Concrete men think more water makes it work easier.

And for concrete it does. And most place & finish contractors in my experience care about nothing else. Certainly not the damage the extra water does to the finished product.

[cwilde72]

No worries. I showed him how to mix up the first batch and he did good on mixing up the next two batches. He was amazed on how easily I could shave and shape it. Next one is a linear drain so just might have to let him play in the mud on that one.

[Hammy]

Certainly not the damage the extra water does to the finished product. CX

Or where all the extra water goes.

Hammy