Concrete sat overnight and ended with a rough finish

[breckrider]

I poured a 10 x 16 concrete pad in 90 degree heat. The last
part of the pour was finished smooth but the next morning
it looked like the cement and sand settled leaving a rough
finish with aggregate coming to the surface.

Can I smooth this with a diamond cup wheel on my grinder?

 

[Steve123]

Yes you can.
Get on it right away. It takes time for the concrete to reach full strength, and its easier before it gets too hard.
The finish will look different where you ground it, so you would need to do the whole pad if looks matter.

 

[breckrider]

Looks don't matter. Most of it is going to be covered by a lap pool.

Thank you!

 

[Jeff Handy]

Also looks like a raccoon or a cat took a stroll across your new pad while still wet.

 

[breckrider]

-.- The homeowner's dog.

 

[Eddie_T]

It could be stuccoed but it might peel after a few years of weathering.

 

[breckrider]

I'm going to grind tomorrow. If the homeowner wants really smooth, I'll skim it with a surfacing product. Hopefully, he'll be ok
with just getting it smooth.