My new guy wanted to use fast concrete in the mud. I said no.

We were setting posts for a vinyl fence behind a bakery. The soil was pure muck after a downpour. My apprentice, keen to get home, cracked open a bag of rapid-set concrete. I had to stop him right there. I told him that stuff needs dry conditions to work right. In soup like this, it just turns to mush and won't hold. We dug out some of the wet dirt, used regular mix, and packed it slow. The boss checked it later and said we did the right thing. How do you folks deal with hurry-up moments that could wreck the job?

3 comments

3 Comments

grayn222d ago

My neighbor tried to pour a small patio slab last spring right after a heavy rain. He was in a rush to finish before a family party and figured the ground would be fine. The whole mix just washed out and left gray streaks through his lawn for months. It's wild how much patience even the quick stuff needs with wet dirt.

tyler_ward62d ago

Ever think the problem was how it was used, not the concrete itself? I've seen rapid-set hold in mud if you prep the area right... unlike @grayn22's neighbor who just poured it on wet dirt. Sometimes rushing with the right steps works fine.

karen_johnson372d ago

Have you actually tried rapid-set in mud before? I've used it on wet jobs and it held up fine if you prep the area right. Just gotta get most of the water out or use a mix with extras for damp ground. Rushing isn't always bad if you know the tricks. Your method works, but from my view, fast concrete can be a lifesaver on a tight schedule. It doesn't automatically wreck a job.