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Overheard a foreman in Dallas talking about his slump test method

He said he always adds exactly 2 extra gallons of water to his truck mix before the pour starts, not after. I tried it on a driveway job last week and the workability was way better for the initial screed. The concrete stayed open longer without getting too wet. Has anyone else adjusted their water on site like that, or do you stick with the plant specs?
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3 Comments
harper_murphy
Honestly, that's the only way I do it now. We started adding about a gallon and a half right before the pour on foundation walls, and it made finishing so much easier. The plant mix is always a little too stiff for my crew, and this gets it perfect right out of the chute.
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reese_singh87
A gallon and a half sounds like a lot to me. That's basically a whole extra bucket of water. My boss back in '09 would've had a fit if he saw anyone doing that on a wall pour. You sure the mix wasn't just messed up from the plant that day?
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ivanl76
ivanl762mo ago
Tried that once and added a bit too much, ended up with a slab that looked like a pancake someone sat on. My crew still gives me grief about the "Lewis Lake" patio. Now I just add a half gallon at most, and only if the sun is really beating down.
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