The 3/4 inch hose trick that saved my slab in Phoenix heat

Last July I was pouring a 30x40 garage and the sun was cooking it so fast I couldn't keep up with the bull float. I grabbed a spare 3/4 inch garden hose, laid it flat on the wet concrete, and ran water through it at a trickle to cool the surface before finishing. It evened out the set time perfectly and I got a smoother finish than any chemical retarder I've used. Has anyone else rigged up a similar water setup on a scorcher of a day?

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jason_stone591mo ago

That "evened out the set time" line is the real gold here. Might have to steal this trick before my next August pour.

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adam_baker1mo ago

Steal it and don't look back, but run the hose slow. Real slow. Like barely a drip, just enough to keep the surface damp and cool, not enough to pool up or wash out the cream. I tried it with a faster flow once and it left a wet spot that took forever to set, messed up my timing. The trick is to move the hose around every couple minutes so you don't cool one spot too much. You'll feel the difference in the float, it's like the concrete is cooperating instead of fighting you. Pair it with a light misting on the edges if you're really baking, but keep that hose dead flat so it doesn't leave a groove. Once you get the hang of it, you'll never waste money on liquid retarders again.

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