Had a big pour go south on a hot day in Phoenix when the mix started setting up way too fast.

We were finishing a 40 yard driveway slab and the truck got stuck in traffic, so the concrete was already 85 degrees when it hit the ground. I had to call for a second truck with a retarder additive and we sprayed the first load with water to buy time while we waited. What's your go-to move when you're racing a flash set in extreme heat?

2 comments

2 Comments

derek_burns3d ago

Calling for that second truck with the retarder was smart. I read a piece by an old finisher who said in that kind of heat, you have to treat the first load like it's already dying. He said wetting it down is a band-aid, but sometimes a band-aid is all you got while you wait for the real fix. Makes you wonder if scheduling pours for super early or at night is the only real answer in places like Phoenix.

alex_king333d ago

Yeah, I used to think night pours were overkill.