My old boss in Phoenix always told me to wait an extra hour before floating on hot days
I rushed a patio pour last July when it was 110 degrees and started floating too soon, which left a ton of pinholes and a rough finish. I had to grind it all back down, which added a full day to the job and cost me the profit. How do you guys judge the right wait time when the weather is crazy hot?
That "wait an extra hour" advice is solid. I got burned like you did. Now I watch the bleed water and the sheen. On a scorcher, I wait for the whole slab to lose its wet shine and for the water to fully soak back in, then I add another 20 minutes. It's not just about time, it's about the look.