Added too much water to a slab on a hot day and paid for it

I was pouring a 12x16 patio in Phoenix last August and thought I was being smart by adding a little extra water to keep it workable. The mix got soupy and by the time I finished, the surface started dusting and cracking along the edges. Learned the hard way that more water just makes weaker concrete, especially when it's 110 degrees. How do you guys handle mix consistency when the weather is brutal?

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3 Comments

williamw752mo ago

Used to think extra water was fine till I watched a slab turn to dust in 110 degree heat.

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jenny_lane122mo ago

Turned to dust" sounds like that cheap mix from the big box store.

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anthony7632mo ago

@jenny_lane12 yeah but that cheap mix from the big box store can fool you if you're not careful. I'm curious though, did it crumble right away or did it take a while to show up? Because I've heard some folks say the issues don't pop up until a year or two later when it's too late to do anything about it. What brand was it anyway, if you don't mind me asking?

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