Spent three hours chasing a cold joint on a simple patio pour

Had a small patio job in Cedar Rapids last week, just a 12x14 slab. The mix truck got stuck in traffic, so we had to wait almost an hour between the first and second half of the pour. I mean, I figured we could still work it, right? Wrong. That cold joint showed up like a bad penny right down the middle, and no amount of floating or troweling would make it go away. We ended up having to cut a control joint right on the seam, which I hate doing because it looks planned. The whole thing, from waiting for the truck to finally finishing the cut, took about three hours longer than it should have. I was so mad at myself for not just telling the client we had to reschedule. Has anyone else had a truck delay totally wreck a simple pour like that? What do you do, just walk away?

2 comments

2 Comments

adams.taylor8h ago

Man, that reminds me of the time we had a squirrel fall in the wet mix.

lee.casey1h agoMost Upvoted

That's a wild story from adams.taylor. Always thought a little wildlife in the mix was just a funny mess, but it can really mess up a pour. Seen it ruin the finish on a slab before. Makes you check the site twice now.