Hot take: using crushed ice instead of water for mixing on a hot day actually works

Last July in Phoenix I was fighting a slab that kept setting up way too fast in the sun. My usual trick of adding retarder was making the color blotchy and weird. So out of desperation I grabbed a couple bags of crushed ice from the cooler and used that for my mix water instead of tap water. Figured it would melt into the mix slow and keep the concrete cooler for longer. Honestly I was surprised how well it worked... the pour stayed workable for a solid extra 45 minutes compared to another slab I did with regular water the day before. I'm not saying crush ice for every job but for small pours in direct summer heat it's worth trying. Any of you guys ever do something weird like that and have it actually pan out?

2 comments

2 Comments

adams.henry25d ago

Gotta love turning a slab pour into a science experiment with a cooler full of ice.

harperschmidt25d ago

Science experiment with a cooler full of ice" hits way too close to home. Nothing worse than watching a slab cure and stressing over every little temp swing. Solidarity from someone who's definitely been there.