Showerthought: That $90 tube of curing compound I grabbed from the hardware store was a total ripoff

I was pouring a small patio slab last month in Raleigh and ran out of my usual spray-on curing compound halfway through. Ran to the nearest box store in a panic and paid $90 for a gallon of that big-name solvent-based stuff. What a mistake. It smelled way too strong, took forever to dry, and the finish came out blotchy in spots. I should have just driven 15 minutes more to my regular supply place and paid $45 for the water-based stuff I always use. To top it off, I spilled half the can when I tripped over a hose. That stuff ruined my whole afternoon. Anyone else get burned by grabbing the wrong product in a hurry like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

riley_coleman1d ago

$90 for a gallon? Man I would've just wet the concrete down and covered it with plastic sheeting instead of paying that. How do they even justify that price for something that's basically just fancy water.

patkelly1d ago

Wait, $90 for a GALLON? I had to read that twice @riley_coleman. You're right, it is just fancy water with some extra stuff mixed in. I've seen those curing compounds at the supply house for like $40-50 tops, not $90. That's insane. Somebody is getting ripped off big time, that's like paying for the name brand of something that does the exact same job as hardware store concrete sealer. Hope you told him to go somewhere else.