Read this before you pour concrete

Most concrete projects fail because of avoidable errors in mixing or pouring. concrete techniques almost always lead to flaking, deterioration and premature failure. Avoid the top 12 concrete pouring mistakes and you’ll have a project to be proud of for a long time.
Concrete too wet

This is probably the easiest concrete mistake to make because properly mixed concrete looks too dry to flow and trowel properly. Don’t be fooled. You should be able to form concrete into a 10cm diameter, 10cm tall pile if it’s mixed properly. Any sloppier than this and the strength of the concrete will diminish.
Concrete too dry

Although a less common problem than concrete too wet, too dry is not good either. Portland cement is the active ingredient in concrete, and cement needs sufficient moisture to cure with full strength. If trowelling a sample pile of concrete doesn’t create a smooth, wet, muddy surface in three strokes of the trowel, your concrete is probably too dry.