22
Warning: I used to just eyeball my mix ratios until a slab failure taught me a hard lesson
For 5 years I'd just toss in extra water if the mud felt stiff, never measuring anything. Last summer a $3,000 driveway I poured in Phoenix started cracking within 3 months because I kept making it too wet. Now I use a slump cone every single batch no matter what and my callbacks have dropped to zero. Has anyone else had a mess up that forced them to change their whole routine?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
xena58219d ago
@zara_sanchez, do you think keeping a logbook helps you spot drying issues before they become big problems?
2
fiona_carr2619d ago
Oh man, I gotta say I totally disagree with this one. Logbooks and slump tests feel like overkill for most small jobs, honestly. I've been pouring concrete for years without any of that and only had problems when I did something dumb like adding too much water because the truck was late. If you know your mix and pay attention to the weather, you can tell by feel if it's right. All that paperwork doesn't prevent the real issues like bad base prep or not curing it long enough. Seems like a way to make yourself feel busy instead of just learning to work with the concrete in front of you.
2
A buddy of mine had a similar wake up call after he poured a simple patio slab for his mom and it started flaking within six months. He had always eyeballed his water content just like you did, thinking it saved time and trouble. Now he uses a slump test every time and keeps a logbook of his mixes to make sure nothing slips past him.
1