Concrete is ready for floating when the bleed water sheen is gone and a finisher can walk on the slab leaving only about a ______ footprint.

• A. 1/8 inch
• B. 1/4 inch
• C. 3/8 inch
• D. 1/2 inch

Answer: (B)

After the bleed water sheen disappears, the surface has gained enough stiffness to support a finisher without tearing or sinking again. At that point, walking on the slab should leave only a light, shallow impression—about a quarter inch deep. This indicates the concrete has set enough to begin floating without creating deep gouges or pushing laitance to the surface, yet is not so stiff that you can’t properly consolidate and finish it. If the footprint were much deeper, the surface would still be too soft and prone to gouging; if it were too shallow, the surface might have already stiffened too much for an even finish. A quarter-inch footprint strikes the right balance for progressing to floating.