Totally relate to your story about the wetter mix—I made that exact mistake when I did a small patio section last summer. Thought I'd outsmart the concrete gods by making it easier to spread, but nope... ended up with those same annoying hairline cracks. Nothing structurally terrible, just enough to bug me every barbecue season.
I'm actually considering another DIY pour soon (budget's tight, so hiring pros is out). Since you've had good results switching to aluminum screeds, do you think it's worth investing in a pricier magnesium one? I've heard they're even lighter and smoother, but not sure if the upgrade is noticeable enough for occasional weekend warrior projects like mine. Curious if anyone here's tried both and noticed a big difference.
I haven't personally tried magnesium screeds, but I did switch from wood to aluminum last year, and honestly, the difference was pretty noticeable. Way lighter and smoother to handle, especially when you're working solo. But now you've got me curious about magnesium—I've heard similar things about them being even lighter and easier on the arms. My question would be, how much lighter can they really be compared to aluminum? And does that weight difference actually translate into a noticeably smoother finish, or is it mostly marketing hype?
For occasional DIY projects, I'm skeptical if the extra cost would really pay off. Aluminum already feels like a big upgrade from wood, at least in my experience. But hey, if someone here has actually used both aluminum and magnesium, I'd love to hear if the difference was enough to justify the price jump.
I've handled both aluminum and magnesium screeds, and honestly, for occasional DIY stuff, magnesium isn't worth the extra cash. Here's why:
- Magnesium is lighter, sure, but the difference isn't night-and-day compared to aluminum.
- Finish quality mostly comes down to technique rather than material weight.
- If you're already happy with aluminum, stick with it—magnesium feels more like a pro-level luxury than a practical upgrade.
Just my two cents from someone who hates overspending on tools I'll rarely use...
Fair points, but one thing to consider is fatigue over longer pours. I've done some fairly extensive DIY slabs, and even though the weight difference seems minor at first, it really adds up after an hour or two. Magnesium's lighter weight helped me maintain better control and consistency towards the end of the job. Aluminum works fine for smaller tasks, but if you're tackling something bigger, magnesium might save your back (and your patience) a bit...
Good points about magnesium floats, but honestly, I've done a fair share of larger pours myself and never really felt aluminum was that much of a disadvantage. Sure, magnesium is lighter, but technique and pacing matter just as much—maybe even more. I found that taking short breaks and switching up my grip occasionally made a bigger difference in fatigue than the float material itself.
Also, magnesium tends to wear down quicker, especially if you're working on rougher concrete mixes or surfaces. Aluminum floats seem to hold their shape longer, which means fewer replacements over time. Not a huge deal if you're only doing one or two projects, but if you're regularly tackling DIY concrete jobs, durability becomes a factor worth considering.
Another thing I've noticed is that magnesium can sometimes leave a slightly different finish compared to aluminum. It's subtle, but depending on your project, it might matter. For instance, when I poured my patio slab last summer, I started with magnesium but switched back to aluminum halfway through because I preferred the smoother finish it gave me. Personal preference, sure—but something to keep in mind.
At the end of the day, both materials have their pros and cons. Magnesium might save you some fatigue, but aluminum isn't exactly a back-breaker either if you're mindful about your approach. Just my two cents from experience...
