Pouring a slab in August heat and watched it crust over before I could finish troweling

Job site was out in Bakersfield, 105 degrees and dry as a bone. I mixed the load a little too stiff thinking it would hold up better. By the time I got the bull float across, the edges were already setting up. Had to hit it with a spray bottle and work fast to save the surface. Ended up with a decent finish but it took twice as long. Anybody else mess up a timing window like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenixw111mo ago

A wet sponge on a stick beats a spray bottle every time, slows the set just enough.

hall.joel1mo ago

Threw 2 gallons of ice in the mix once on a 108 degree day in Fresno and it bought me maybe 10 extra minutes. Your mileage may vary but a light mist coat and a clean magnesium trowel can save it if you catch it fast enough.

vera_robinson361mo ago

Wait, did you seriously just toss 2 whole gallons of ice into a concrete mix on a 108 degree day? That's insane, I can't even imagine the look on the foreman's face if he saw you dumping that much ice in. I've tried a bag of crushed ice on a hot day before and it melted so fast I barely noticed a difference. You must have been working like crazy to get it all placed in that 10 minute window.