Just had a contractor tell me my mix was too wet on a job last Tuesday

Old timer named Joe pulled me aside on a driveway pour in Phoenix and said 'if you can see the water pooling, you're already in trouble.' Anyone else get called out like that by a random guy on site?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliverhernandez13d ago

You ever had a finisher tell you that your mud's too wet while you're still trying to get it out of the truck? That happened to me on a hot day in July and I learned real quick that you gotta keep an eye on the slump. If you're seeing water sit on top before you even start pulling, you're gonna get a crusty surface and maybe some cracking later. Best thing I ever did was start using a little less water and adding a retarder when it's hot out. Saves you from that panic of trying to fix a soupy mess on the ground. How do you usually adjust your mix when the temp spikes like that?

the_claire13d ago

Actually adding more water helps me work the mud way easier.

holly_reed5513d ago

Wait, the finisher actually called you out while you were still dumping the chute? That's brutal lmao. I had a guy literally walk away from the slab once and tell me it was "my problem now" when I was just trying to get it placed. I totally agree on the retarder though, I started using a half gallon per yard on anything over 85 degrees and it saved my ass more times than I can count. For me it's all about keeping the drum speed steady and not letting it sit too long before the pour, that extra hydration heat just kills you if you're not careful.