My concrete slab pour went sideways hard last Tuesday

Had a 20 yard residential slab pour scheduled for a garage in Austin. Everything looked good on paper but the ready mix truck showed up 45 minutes late and the mix was way too wet, like almost soupy. We tried to work it but within 2 hours we had cracking along the control joints before we even finished finishing. Ended up having to demo and repour the whole thing at my own cost, about $4,200 down the drain because I didn't send the truck back. Has anyone ever managed to save a pour when the slump is that far off?

2 comments

2 Comments

shah.barbara16d ago

Check the actual weather forecast for the next 48 hours before you pour, not just the day of. I had a similar soupy load once in Houston (total nightmare) and the real killer was the humidity and temp dropping fast overnight. That extra water on top of a wet mix plus a cold snap hitting before the slab set right turned it into a crack festival. Might have saved yours if you saw that coming and adjusted with some accelerant or at least covered it earlier.

sam_harris6816d ago

Is there any way to test the slump right at the chute before they start dumping? I've heard of guys using a cheap slump cone and a tape measure to catch it early and reject the load on the spot. That $4,200 lesson is brutal but at least now you know to always check the mix yourself before you start pouring.