Define bleed water and its impact on finishing.

• A. Bleed water evaporates before finishing
• B. Bleed water rises to the surface during early curing; excessive bleed can cause laitance and a weak surface if not finished properly or cured
• C. Bleed water is water added after placement to adjust slump
• D. Bleed water seals the surface

Answer: (B)

Bleed water is the water that rises to the surface of fresh concrete as the solids settle and the mixture becomes denser. This happens early in the curing process. If there’s a lot of bleed, a thin layer of cement paste and fines—laitance—can form on the surface. Laitance is weak and can reduce bond with toppings or coatings, and a surface finished or cured over this weak layer will be prone to dusting or a reduced strength. So, the practical takeaway is that bleed water appears at the surface during early curing, and excessive bleed can create laitance and a weak surface if you finish or cure improperly.