Switched to a whipped concrete mix for my last driveway job in Phoenix

I used to always run my mix super wet cause I thought it made finishing easier... but last July that 105 degree heat was killing me trying to get it to set right. Started using a stiffer mix with a little plasticizer and man it's like night and day for control. Has anyone else dealt with getting a good finish in super hot weather?

2 comments

2 Comments

faith_smith6d ago

dude i feel you on that phoenix heat, it's brutal. i did a walkway last august in vegas and the heat was literally cooking the mud before i could even get it on the ground. i switched to using some ice in the mix water to keep the temp down, and a little retarder to buy me some time. that stiffer mix with plasticizer sounds smart too, i bet the finish holds way better without all that extra water bleeding out.

michaelcoleman6d ago

Hold up, whipped concrete? Like with a mixer attachment or something? I've never heard of anyone doing that on a driveway pour, that sounds wild. But if it worked for you in that heat then I guess you found a way to make it happen, though I'd be scared of trapping too many air bubbles.