Stop ignoring the mix water ratio on hot days

I saw a crew pour a slab last week in 88 degree heat and they just dumped extra water in to make it workable. That slab is gonna crack in 6 months tops, I guarantee it. The engineer spec was clear on the water-cement ratio but they didn't care. How do you guys handle site superintendents who push you to rush the mix?

3 comments

3 Comments

leo_carr1318d ago

Stop ignoring the mix water ratio" - brother you're not wrong. I've watched the same thing happen.

sam_wood6018d ago

You said "Stop ignoring the mix water ratio" and that's exactly what my buddy Dave did last summer. He was pouring a small patio and figured he could eyeball the water. Dry mix on top, wet sludge at the bottom, total mess. He kept adding more water trying to fix it and ended up with a soupy disaster that took three days to set. When it finally cured, the surface looked like a dried out riverbed with cracks everywhere. I told him to just redo it but he said "it'll be fine" and now his wife won't let him near any concrete projects.

leo_carr1318d ago

100%. They'll act surprised too when it turns into a spiderweb of cracks. Hot mix is a BEAST.