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Why nobody talks about using wet burlap on hot pours
Had a 90 degree day last August in Phoenix where a big slab started cracking before I even finished floating it. Threw wet burlap over the whole thing and waited 20 extra minutes, then finished it perfectly with no issues.
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grantp1417d ago
Phoenix at 90 degrees is brutal, I've seen slabs turn into a spiderweb of cracks before the sun even sets. I started using wet burlap on anything over 85 degrees after a similar disaster. The trick is to keep it damp but not soaked, you want the water to evaporate slow and cool the concrete down. I also found that misting the subgrade a little before pouring helps a ton too, it stops the ground from sucking the moisture out from underneath. Honestly it's one of those simple things that can save a whole pour if you ask me.
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hannah40017d ago
@emerym36 that's a good point about the subgrade, I've seen guys just soak the surface and ignore the bottom drying out. Keeping the burlap damp not soaked makes a real difference, it lets the slab cool gradual without water pooling on top. Misting the subgrade beforehand is something I started doing after watching a slab pull moisture from the dirt underneath in like 10 minutes flat.
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