The week a 40-yard pour went sideways in July heat

Got a call for a big driveway in Phoenix, 40 yards scheduled for a Thursday. The plant truck showed up two hours late, and the temp hit 110 by 10 AM. We were fighting the set the whole time, and the homeowner kept coming out to ask why it looked 'dusty'. Had to spray retarder and work through lunch just to get it closed up. What's your go-to move when the weather turns on you mid-pour?

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3 Comments

miles5816mo ago

Honestly, that "dusty" look is the worst sign. When it's that hot, I've started keeping a couple bags of ice in a cooler just for the mixing water. Tbh, adding ice chips to the drum or the wheelbarrow can buy you those extra few minutes of work time without messing with the mix design too much. It's a small thing but it can save a pour.

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nancyhernandez6mo ago

I read that some crews even chill the aggregates first.

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logan6326mo ago

Chilling the aggregates is a total game changer in this heat. We started doing that on a big slab pour last summer and the difference in work time was crazy. It beats just using ice in the mix water because it cools the whole batch more evenly. Makes finishing so much less of a panic.

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