If bleeding happens while pouring a new slab that ties into an existing slab, which condition describes the surface outcome most likely?

• A. The surface will develop cracks
• B. The surface will cure with a uniform matte finish
• C. The surface will peel off from the formwork
• D. The surface will remain rough and uneven

Answer: (A)

Bleeding brings excess water to the surface as the concrete settles, creating a softer, laitance-rich top layer and delaying surface hardening. When the new slab is tied to an existing one, the joint acts as a restraint, preventing shrinkage and movement where you’d normally relieve stresses. That combination—surface weakening from the laitance and tensile stresses from restraint during curing—makes surface cracking the most likely outcome. The other possibilities describe finishing or bond conditions (uniform matte finish, peeling from formwork, or a consistently rough surface) that aren’t the typical result specifically caused by bleeding when the slab ties into another slab.