Selected Answers

From Giovanni Natale of MAPEI on January 11, 2016:
These are known as stress cracks in the stamping i ...read more These are known as stress cracks in the stamping industry and become apparent when concrete loses its plasticity through rapid moisture loss. Dealing with any concrete, it is important to retard the rapid loss of moisture through evaporation, usually caused by wind, heat and sun. There are several effective ways to do so such as immediately covering the surface with a white curing membrane sheet or applying a liquid evaporation retarder. The idea is to retain as much moisture in the concrete as possible  between the pouring phase and the initial stamping phase. If one succeeds at achieving moisture retention, these cracks will be minimized because the concrete will be plastic enough to accommodate the stress created by stamping.