Pro tip: You're probably adding way too much water to your mix on hot days

I watched a crew in Phoenix last week try to finish a driveway slab they poured at 2 PM. They kept hosing in extra water to slow the set, and the whole thing ended up with crazy cracks and dusting on the surface. It was a 4-yard pour, and by the time they were done troweling, the mix was soup. The real fix is using a retarder or just starting earlier, not drowning it. Has anyone else found a solid plan for high-heat pours that actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_phoenix15d ago

Actually seen that work fine if you're smart about it. The key is adding just a tiny bit of water at the very end to buy time for a final pass. Maybe it's just me, but a full retarder can mess with the finish too.

jamiekim15d ago

Seems like a lot of extra steps for paint. If it dries too fast, you're probably mixing in a hot garage or something. I just work faster and it turns out fine. Never had my finish get messed up from a retarder either. People overcomplicate this stuff.