How to clean footing concrete in prep for trenchblocks

[DeanAlan]

Hi all,

 

We had our concrete footings poured about 4 months ago and (don't ask why such a long delay) the brick layers are turning up to lay the foundation masonry in to block and beam level then SIPs.

 

I've had to dig mud off the top of the footings that has washed on through the rain and whilst it is dry for the next few days and mild I thought I would jet was.

Yes, I knew this would leave water but there was also muddy water before and a lot more mud than when I started. I haven't made the situations worse!

 

Clearly you can't lay blocks onto dirty concrete (wet isn't so bad I think but dirty is not good).

 

I can't control the weather and it washing more mud on but I can do my best to clean off what is there now.

 

Should I jet wash and get some kind of pump to take the pooling water away. If so, any suggestion on the type of pump and fittings required (only talking 5-10mm of water so not a sump pump)? I'll be browsing HSS in a moment.

 

I'd also wondered if there are products that should be used (like alcohol although I'm drinking a lot more of that these days since we took on this project  )

 

I could sit there with a hairdryer for days!

 

cheers,

- Dean

[JohnMo]

I used a brush and shovel, don't overthink it

[Faz]

As above - it hasn't got to come up like you are going to eat your dinner off it.

[Brickie]

If you still have a machine on site,dig a sump hole adjacent to the footing to give the water somewhere to go. 

[DeanAlan]

Thanks all.

Overthinking - possible, paranoid, maybe.

 

I have a big soakaway and drainage pipes all prepared, I could just pump any excess water into there.

 

cheers,

-Dean