What would you do?

[@krisknowlton5935]

The best part about this video is you guys were helping out a buddy (that's "mate" for you guys down under) for no financial gain. We need more of this. He must be a really good guy for you guys to do that for him. I've done concrete work for a friend before and it doesn't make it any easier. In my half a century plus years of messing with concrete I've learned this 'There is an easy way to place and finnish concrete and there is a hard way and they're both hard.' Nice job.

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Kris. I agree they're both hard. LOL. Yes we have an awesome group of friends.

[@henryjohnson3851]

One thing for sure, once you start leveling it off you cant reject it. Bad though when getting multiple truckloads and not similar water content, especially on poly. .That conveyor setup is great. Never had those back in the day. Really great too that you have lots of help. I was never so fortunate, usually just myself and a flunky...... Good job guys

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks and I agree. Yes this truck is so helpful 👍

[@nonyabuisness]

I carry fritz packs on my truck. They have a product called sump buster that will reduce the slump. They also have air down, air up and a super plastisizer.

[@bondobuilt386]

Yes that's a good idea to carry some with ya for these problems that come up.

[@dsm9785]

That soft cut technique is impressive also, glad to see positive advances in the industry

[@bondobuilt386]

I love that saw what a time saver.

[@dunep6465]

Ya did the best you could with what ya had Ron, but I definitely would have been on the phone to the plant manager. When you let 'em get away with that crap they'll do it again. They're not the only game in town.

[@akdefense]

Reject the mud! Most of our S.O.G. and suspended slabs we broke down into 200cu.yd sections, we needed good mud. Usually 3 - 4 slump with glenium added bringing it down to a 5 slump. The superplasticizers are the way to go, added on sight just before the pour. Goes in smooth and fires off quick. It would take a little under two hours to place, usually in less than 4 hours from the start of the pour your done finishing it. All flatwork like this we'd keep 5 minutes between trucks. As for ceilings, walls & columns, we space trucks 15 minutes apart. This was in the Anchorage, Alaska area, we poured year round. Most trucks were tested, slump and cylinders. Keep some paver forms, deadman forms, flowerpot forms around for those days when you end of with extra mud:)

[@bondobuilt386]

I have used the super P concrete and it is the way to go. This concrete plant is developing a special mix for me but its gonna be a bit before I trust it on a bigger pour.

[@iowamatt2519]

I just bought a new Whiteman 3' trowel with the quick pitch. Nice unit

[@bondobuilt386]

Yes I love that machine. Got it new also this year buddy 👍

[@nieldcreek2098]

It’s so hard to pull the trigger on sending it back be cause it just screws up the whole day. I think letting it set for 30-40 minutes before screeding ( I think in your area you call it “striking”?). I’ve been there cause it’s a hard decision, but I think you made the right choice. Fortunately you do have visqueen under it so it will force the moisture out the top so it hopefully will minimize shrinking cracks. Btw we seldom use a moisture barrier in our area, unless it’s on a commercial job. Personally I hate it cause it causes it to act up sometime, as well as take longer to set. The worse part is when you have interior mono footings, it tends to set up slower and causes a little hump in it quite often. Nice job, you made the right decision in my opinion.

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks for the comment. Looking back maybe I should have kept the first truck low and dumped second on top of it but that slows down getting it all in and this was a big floor. If we dont use plastic inside buildings here they sweat terrible and your tools will rust. 👎 Happy pouring my friend 😊

[@concreter6832]

In Australia mesh is to be approximately 35mm from top of concrete, not down on the bottom, unless U had 2 layers , the inspectors would make us use plastic chairs under mesh , that way mesh will sit nice and level and in the correct height,. Chairs for that job cost $50 . Everyone does things differently.

[@deanevangelista6359]

I’m sure the wire was pulled, but with that soup, it may sink too low.

[@tonygolledge7906]

Yeah, ware are the bar stools hey ?

[@SinnisjInsulator]

Great work as usual. Ya that 7 slump sounds bad. Makes the concrete weak and difficult, that's a real doozie.

[@bondobuilt386]

Ya bud I was not happy but we made the best of it. 👍

[@cap10joe2000]

Some keyway expansion in a 10ft grid would be awesome, but I would probably slightly decrease distance between control joints (assuming you were going to cut them), always a tuff decision to send the truck back but that one was close. Life of a concrete man..looks like a good crew!

[@trevormeyer8033]

0

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks good info buddy.

[@hodesto]

Love your videos. You look like a close bunch of friends and good working guys. I just retired LIRR and will be building a house up in Vermont next year. Your videos help me somewhat understand concrete which will help me out when I start my build. One ? If you sent the truck back to the plant what would they do with the load? Thanks

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Robert. Glad the videos are helpful. They would probably make big retaining wall blocks out of it or water it up and dump it in the slurry pit.

[@scottkelley883]

Usually they mix it back into another load they send out. Sometimes multiple times in a day. Not to worry though, the concrete gets tested and still passes strength tests. On the commercial buildings i have worked on they take cores and crush them to test strength

[@MrSprintcat]

Hey Bondo thanks for the video. Let's see some videos of preparation of the soil before the pouring of the concrete. Like how far to dig down before you put the 3/4 Stone and all that. Thanks again for the video sold my big house in the city moving to the country. Building my barn like this could use some tips. I know I asked you in the past about slab-on-grade but need to know how to prepare the grade

[@bondobuilt386]

Around here they dig out 2 feet of the topsoil and clay and put bank run gravel down. This id bony gravel right out of the ground. Then they roll that and compact it. Then they build the pole barn and I put finer material on top to get it level. I usually don't do that early work so that's why I don't video that part.

[@MrSprintcat]

Awesome just the info I was looking for .👍👍

[@bondobuilt386]

@@MrSprintcat great 👍

[@timpottenburgh5407]

At first the tall guy with the gloves I thought by his back was Bob Cornell but when you said dan all I could think of was barney? Good video

[@bondobuilt386]

Hi Tim it was my buddy Dan Goodrow. Thanks

[@frankflanagan109]

It definitely happens, even when we pour everyday..... just gotta roll with it. We rarely send trucks back for the very reason you said, it messes up timing!

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Frank I agree.

[@deharts4]

It’s nice that you talked about pulling up the wire mesh. If it was dobie or chaired up it would have given the concrete the strength it was intended and since the concrete was delivered wet you lost more strength. Every job should have dobies. If it was a commercial build it would not pass inspection.

[@bondobuilt386]

I find it dangerous to walk on chaired up wire mesh.

[@jeffchattin4799]

I am retired from management in the ready mix industry. Problems like this should be addressed with the company quality control techs. This could have been a costly issue on a tight spec job. Drivers need to understand the importance of slump control.

[@bondobuilt386]

Jeff I agree it is usually on the driver when it is this wet.

[@scottjones8036]

I have been in the concrete fiber business for over 20 years. In that time I have worked on a lot of very large industrial floors with steel fibers and polypropylene fibers. My question is why is the vapor barrier on top of the welded wire? Doing that makes your welded wire useless in the slab. The wire should be positioned in the top 3rd of the concrete to get any benefits out of it. And than it needs to be up on slab bolsters to achieve that. Wire in the bottom on the slab serves no purpose. Just a waste of money, time and labor.

[@christophersleight19]

It looks like the wire is on top to me. But, I'm not a concrete guy.

[@jmconcretecoloradosprings]

We try and stay below a 5 and if you see some of our winter videos we pour it dry like curb and gutter around a 3-4. I would have sent it back. Last video I posted hit a solid 5.5 but we ran the mixer for 10 minutes and brought it down and it worked out. Great job and awesome video brother!

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks I appreciate that buddy. Not many people pour a decent slump anymore.

[@michaeleaston547]

You did good, don't worry about it. Not a lot of choices. Thank you.

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks it came out sweet but made it harder then it needed to be. 😩

[@d.i.whynot484]

Tough call with so many thing to consider. You know best and time will tell.

[@bondobuilt386]

Yup I think it will be good. There concrete has been testing at 6000 psi crush for there 4000 lbs mix. They do not have slag or fly ash in it just a lot of Portland. 👍

[@jimmyaylor4742]

1: concrete plant can withhold 1 gal per yard / add back if needed 2: I would have check slump, if slump was to high on first load reject it, if it was 2,3,4, I would have went with. 3: more than likely the driver got carried away washing his blades off 4: you will accept a failing load to prevent a cold joint 5: 4000 psi was a over kill for this pad, 3000 psi would have been fine 6: I would have wetted it and cover with plastic to help with cracking 7: it takes 28 days for concrete to fully cure in ideal conditions, I would not put any big equipment weight on it until at least 80% + strength

[@larryag99]

You can always add water, but you can't remove it. Order with 3 or 4 slump and add water on site to suite.

[@bondobuilt386]

Thats what I do but this one showed up like that.

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

To big of area for the joints in my opinion, but I do like the saw cut

[@bondobuilt386]

I tried two be near the cold joints. 👍😊

[@dsm9785]

I’m impressed with the conveyor, we didn’t have those in my day, or at least not in our area.we had to set up chutes and move them constantly. I was wondering how much stress there would be where the conveyor connects to the truck. There is nothing light in concrete, except the paycheck

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks. I would not want to be under that conveyer if it broke off the truck.

[@rodfrost5051]

I'm amazed at how much they can handle.

[@davidhorsley1149]

I've been on jobs where the contractor or the inspector rejected concrete for more water than specified for the strength called for. I also know of some drivers who ad water after leaving the batching plant because they don't want to spend extended periods of time on the job while the crew lays the concrete.

[@bondobuilt386]

Yes David the drivers should not do that and that drives me crazy when I am there longer finishing it and its not as good of mud either.

[@mattminde1747]

All depends on how much water reducer is in the load. Or other additives the either help cure faster or slower. Also grade comes in to play, along with temperatures outside.

[@bondobuilt386]

Absolutely

[@jimpowell4945]

You may have ordered 4000 lb concrete but it probably closer to 1500. I would have poured some test cylinders and had the concrete company replace the slab if it came in under 3000.

[@AllAccessConstruction]

Good video.. Just got make it happen.. Thats were experience comes in... 💯💯

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks man. You just gotta roll with it sometimes. 👍👊

[@AllAccessConstruction]

@@bondobuilt386 all good love the.. " wire police slogan".. 😅 😅 😅

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Pouring foundations, we had this very problem, and yes, our lead rejected the concrete, held us up an entire day. But if we had poured the foundation, it might have been soup for half the day, and also been weaker. The mix is critical for strength, not just how it behaves while you are leveling and skreeding it. Nothing is worse for the concrete production company than to get a rejection. When that happens, big heads are talking.

[@bondobuilt386]

Cant blame you. especially a wall pour that's a good way to get a blowout.

[@robertduffy5805]

When you realized it was wet could you have poured it out across the whole floor and then add the thicker on top of it to even it out? or would that have caused the bottom to stay wet with the top dry

[@bondobuilt386]

No I think that would have been better to do that way.

[@bondobuilt386]

@@MM-ui9rm yup I think so 👍

[@geneduclos4003]

Have nothing to offer except thanks for sharing. Your videos will help us when we pour our footing, ICF walls, and basement slab. I keep your videos in a Bondo KZbin folder for future reference. BTW, do you check the slump of every truck load?

[@bondobuilt386]

Awesome. Thanks Gene.

[@danadams8718]

If you can work with it within reason, it shows you have skill and experience.

[@ericbizzell7432]

You should have just unloaded the second truck first, while the first one sat with its drum not turning. Within half an hour it would have droped half to one inch slump. I'm a concrete driver thats been laying, pumping and driving concrete trucks for over twenty years. As for any weakness worries...Don't. First of its a slab, secondly its indoors so the sun's heat won't cause expansion, thereby cracking. Also, 4000 psi is more then enough then what was needed unless the owner is planning to have heavy equipment or machinery on the slab. Yes, I understand it takes more time finish the slab as you wait, but as for the end product there will be no problems.

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Eric. Good info thanks for sharing.

[@jayphillips4058]

Concur..let the first one cook if the second one isn't distanced too far. And if you do get wet/dry loads happening, always have power trowels/kneeboards split up to where you can access either side of the slab 'just in case'. The worst, of course, is having a combination of trucks with varying slumps and having a dryer slump happen in the middle of the pour, can't access that area with a power trowel without making a mess taking it through the wetter areas. Whoever's batching ought to realize if they're dealing with wet sand, which is the usual cause of wet loads, adjust head water accordingly and not have the problem. That's the thing about mud, you can always add water, but you can't take it out. Fritz packs, etc. are fine, but that water's still in the load, and it'll come back to haunt during the finish process. Or later when breaking strength cylinders.

[@ericbizzell7432]

@@jayphillips4058 Agreed, Also fritz pack? I'm presuming you are refering to dry pack or balls. Never heard it called "fritz". Learned a good trick to break them up during my pumping years. If you put two or three, 3-4 ft 2x4 boards in the load and give a good mix it will break most of the balls up without damaging the trucks fins and are easy to get back out. Just one of those old timer tricks I learned in a former life.

[@bondobuilt386]

@@jayphillips4058 yup spot on buddy 👍

[@jayphillips4058]

@@ericbizzell7432 Fritz-Pak concrete admixtures, they've been around a long time. Quite a variety anymore, I carried a several of them in my mixer truck to deal with the unexpected, mostly delay-set, microair, and Slick-packs, the latter for when you get the occasional harsh mix, get it to slide through. In a pinch for footings, a few bags will dry up a wet load a little, but you have to be careful how much you try for.

[@gunfisher4661]

You made the right call or shut the job down. But I often wonder about the 7+ slump thing even though the engineers say so, I`ve been on jobs that lasted over 3 years and you get to see first hand what goes ,what happens in those circumstances. Seen quite a few wet ones go down finish looking beautiful 3 years later with no cracks [ that`s interior and exterior ] so after so many of those I have to doubt the engineers a bit, Maybe if someone would have took core samples and proofed it I would be more believing.

[@vincentmeyers9365]

You did the best you could with the crappy hand you were dealt. Very nice job under difficult conditions. I enjoy your videos a lot !

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Vincent.

[@jimanderson4495]

Another job you gotta fix cuz Circle T screws up. Bondo to the rescue! Go Ron. Thanks

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks uncle Jim. This stuff happens every once in a while with every concrete company when you pour as much as we do. 👍😊

[@vdpeer]

I had a bad experience with a bad contractor who sent one man to pour twenty yards for a garage floor. The man had the delivery driver add too much water, then he finished it tight too soon. The result, weeks later, was that the cream layer on top scaled off. We had to break that floor up and re-pour, and there was hydronic heating in it too.

[@bondobuilt386]

Oh that's a real bad day. I don't think this was that wet.

[@joeykwell6495]

Thanks can't wait for more

[@bojangles_bonjangles8000]

It looked a little wet, but nothing too bad. 4,000 psi certainly helps. You guys do good work.

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks. Some guys pour everything this wet but not us. Unless it has super Plasticizer in it but that can act up in my opinion. 4000 is pretty strong stuff.

[@detectoraid5985]

Since it's not slump tested any liability falls on the contractor, and you said it was a friends (residential) so it's his $$ and your expertise. Any commercial work would have several test cylinders pulled by a inspector for a slump/break test and obviously that load would be rejected. Add mixtures? Plasticize? Polar set? Air entrained?

[@fatherandsonadventures-cq8nw]

When i re built 2 runways at MIA we were pouring center line lighting . It was 10,000 had to break at 8,000 by 8AM if not 8:30 we could not open the runway. LD'S were 5,000$ every hour till it opened. If it did not come out at a 3" slump it was rejected. I sent alot of trucks back

[@iowamatt2519]

I have rejected loads which leads to long days waiting for new mud, but if we use it I don't bullfloat it and let it sit as long as possible without using the machine

[@bondobuilt386]

I should have poured it all over about 2” deep and topped it with the good mud. It was real wert. Next time 👍

[@gunfisher4661]

@@bondobuilt386 Best choice

[@KpxUrz5745]

Even if the homeowner is able to find a competent concrete outfit, it seems something always goes wrong anyway. I've only hired a few jobs (different companies) and each time faced one if not three or four disasters. Like this: Needed a 22x36 monolithic slab with footing for a 2-storey building not yet built. First disaster was the inspector arrived and demanded a much deeper18" footing, so they had to redig after level sand was all ready in the middle. The boss said "there goes the profit" because we had agreed on a price. I had to pay more anyway. Next disaster was the concrete supply company gives their real attention to commercial jobs, and probably mistreats homeowners. So they held me off a few weeks while winter approached, finally arriving on a Friday (end of week, not clean fresh concrete). Since truck could not reach my site, I had to pay separate company with a pumping machine. We started, and after 6 yards the pumping became impossible because the batch contained big hard clumps. So the pumping guy said "I'm not ruining my new $60,000 machine on bad concrete", and he just drove off to the next job. He got fully paid anyway because of his "minimum". My guys had no choice but to hand-shovel 6 yards of concrete out to middle of my back driveway, one wheelbarrow at a time. In doing this, they chopped up the nice 6mil plastic on bottom, so it was no longer waterproof. Foreman had to churn all the concrete with his bobcat to mix it with earth to avoid a gigantic mountain of concrete drying. There went my monolithic pour, since the foundation was poured and slab had to be done the next week. Everything went wrong, and nobody (including me) was happy. Things look peachy keen on youtube, but try hiring a concrete job in real life. I've had many other big problems on other jobs, each time different and unexpected. No amount of "better planning" would have helped. One of the biggest wildcards is the concrete supplier. The clock is ticking and you get stuck with what they send you. The only remedy is to be a big commercial outfit, where everyone knows they better treat you right, as it affects getting future work. Homeowners are the lowest priority and nobody cares.

[@BEANS-O-MATICtransmissions]

ALL of what you said is literally my biggest fear when i get my floor pour done.... I'll be doing all the prep and rebar , I'm just worried about the quality of the concrete and the finish work.

[@dandunning4409]

8 inch border line to send back for what your doing. If it was outside I would agree with send it back or put him in time out for 30 minutes with the drum turning very very slow and that will tighten it up I will say that we have contractors that pour 100+ yards every day and they always pour a 7 inch slump nothing less for flat work. But it's your call your the one that's gotta work with it.

[@gregquick1542]

I always order the concrete at a 5 inch slump. You can always add water. You can't take it out. When you are inside and have plastic down concrete is going to bleed more.

[@tad3900]

Do you have a wet batch plant or are the drivers adding water?

[@butopiatoo]

man, what a bummer. wonder if the wet first load will spall. good luck. no good deed goes unpunished.

[@SylwerDragon]

There isn't the best answer..But i would suggest to ask driver to add at least few kilos(lets say 100kg) of cement to improve quality of concrete..Later on you can discuss what to do with it(and ask company for some compensation ) ..but i think it would be your loose anyway...there isn't much you can do ..because if you want good quality i feel there isn't much you can do . Try the best ..and discuss or argue with them later..You want to fix it right now when truck is there..

[@bondobuilt386]

I wish the trucks had some Portland in the truck but they don't. maybe I should carry some in my truck?

[@SylwerDragon]

@@bondobuilt386 yes i would suggest that for next time..and soemtimes company where you bought it from will allow you to return it for free (or at least buy something else in exchange) ..that would be good idea..i know not the best as it is extra money..but in general it would increase quality of finished product..

[@block4463]

Check the slump before dumping the mud... Just a piece of advice. You can't blend two different batches. Unfortunately. Keep the delivery papers. It's a piece of evidence in case of disorders, the video too.

[@arloshaddy574]

If the slump coming out of the shoot doesn’t match what’s on your ticket I usually send it back. You can screed that wet concrete off and then let it sit open for awhile before you hit it with a bull float. That will allow the first load to hydrate a little so everything finishes at the same time.

[@chrisanthony579]

If you had specs requiring 4000, no way that first truck would test out. If the concrete contractors had to tear it out and repour, maybe they would be a little more willing to reject loads. That being said, it's fine for a shop floor. nice work guys.

[@christopherhaak9824]

It takes about two minutes to slump test some right off the truck initially. If the concrete is important, you should be doing this and just reject the load. This is all on the mix company to correct.

[@kellyinfanger9192]

Why pour the front before the back? I didn't see a door in the back. Good decision, save the vibratory screed for the truck with a thicker slump. Wire near the bottom is stronger than wire center or higher.

[@bondobuilt386]

We started in the back and worked to the door. I agree on the wire. 👍

[@gunfisher4661]

In our area the engineers tell us the rebar gives max strength 11/2"' from bottom and 11/2" from top and thats running 4` thick pads , so that would be similar for wire I think but I have demoed slabs with wire up in the middle and it sure is a booger to remove even with a track hoe and a buster.

[@richardstockwell9637]

Ya We have rejected loads before Had a vary large ICF job and the plant clean the truck and had basket ball chunks that would not fit into the forms

[@terrydougherty7078]

Who performed the slump test? Should have rejected if out of spec.

[@jasonharper2601]

why did you not reject a load if we get the mud out of spec it goes back

[@Stacked3403]

I've tore out a lot of concrete and almost every slab with mesh it's on the bottom not doing anything or in the dirt all rusted out. I'm just curious why you use mesh as opposed to steel or fiberglass rebar? I know everyone is different in how and why they do stuff just wondering. Good job by the way

[@josesoares1245]

Because it is a fraction of the cost and significantly cheaper to install when you factor in labour costs. Any concrete company worth a damn uses rebar reinforcement. Mesh is a cheap man's material nothing more nothing less.

[@bondobuilt386]

We have to be competitive with cost. The mesh and fibers are above the building code. They would just hire someone else because they were cheaper.

[@bondobuilt386]

@@josesoares1245 I use bar where the homeowner is willing to pay the extra. Most are looking at the cost and it is already above code with wire and fibers.

[@carlpeters9523]

it will be ok with plasticizer , will take a lot longer to set / cure , always pay attention to the batch times , you know 1and 1 /2 hours , typically plasticizer is only added by request . my tips from , 30 year inspector testing lab , Cleveland Ohio area . good luck

[@cheshstyles]

Add slumpbuster ;) I order it drier than I want to pour by 1 number (usually i order a 4 and pour a 5 unless it's small, cold, or a lot of pitch

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

U guys use vibe strikes?

[@bondobuilt386]

I like to pour at a 5-1/2 to 6" slump. I will have to get some slump buster. thank you 👊

[@cheshstyles]

@@GRUBB-MUDD no we do pretty small pours, 2 man aluminum screed, terrible puddlers 🤪. I like the Australian style one man screeds Concrete ninja uses but the aluminum ones are useful for other things as well and I don't want to carry around 2 types

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

Man I used a viberstrike today, and it was only 13 yards maybe 14 and it was hump day! Good thing I had that Cadillac Concrete Products bullfloat

[@cheshstyles]

@@GRUBB-MUDD hump day came early on ya!

[@shanelaplaunt89]

The life of a finisher, I think you called it right, I have that happen too , the dispatcher would normally bring out a bunch of pizza for us, cause you certainly could of raised a stink about that one, not cool, but you improvised and got the slab down , nice job guys, Pacific Northwest signing off ?

[@rinkevichjm]

You should be using SCC made with plasticizer

[@davebeck3135]

I would have called Bondo, he is the concrete king!

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Dave. LOL

[@craigclemson9642]

8 foot squares plenty big soft cut first thing next am not while your finishing it just the way I do it everyone is different if wet work with it

[@idadho]

What if you poured the first load thin, maybe only 2 inches then topped it with stiffer concrete? That sloppy mess would cold joint fine.

[@bondobuilt386]

Yes we could have done that. 👍

[@gunfisher4661]

get some bags of dry Portland mix and spread it around and work it in with the power trowels.

[@idadho]

@@gunfisher4661 That would be fine in the truck if it was added before 90 minutes 270 turns were elapsed since batching but would never get a proper mix in the pour.

[@jasonleeloveless2183]

If you pouring with a,5"inch slump that's perfect for a 80 yards of concrete all my 48 years of finishing concrete if your pouring with a,6"inch that's just mess up the job that much six years ago my dad and,my and brother and, me & four other finishers we did 80 yards of concrete and, finished it with a,5" inch slump and, the 80 yards finished out perfect

[@tommckinney3947]

That extra water makes for a long day!

[@bondobuilt386]

Yes sir it pisses me off too Tom LOL

[@mikemacinsky7]

If I were the big cheese, with concrete that wet I would have put it on the bottom and poured the stiffer crete on top. Secondly, I have poured more concrete than most people, having worked highway construction for 40 years. The first thing I would tell the supplier, I want a 3" slump - it's easier to add water than remove it!

[@bondobuilt386]

I agree. That would be better to bury it with stiffer stuff. They usually have a nice 5 slump for me. Not sure what happened that day. Ya never been able to get the water out. LOL

[@SM-xm7dt]

How is it that concrete is mixed wrong? Don’t the concrete plants weigh everything to a formula? Is it human error?

[@bondobuilt386]

It was the driver adding to much water to the load. They fine tune the slump in the truck. The Aggragates can be dry or wet if they got rained on so they need to adjust things.

[@gunfisher4661]

@@bondobuilt386 supposedly the computerized batch plants have all that programed in their computors

[@jonboot4451]

I would have check the second load. If it was a 5 slump I would have spread that first load over the whole floor then gone back with the second and third. Wouldn't have had a cold joint because of the poly holding the water in.

[@michiganengineer8621]

That's what I was thinking too. Use that first load of soup (NOT mud) as the bottom layer for the majority of the floor, then (to my mind) as you walk over and work the upper layer it will help blend the two together. Actually I think that would have worked even if every load was watery.

[@bondobuilt386]

We have done that before and looking back I wish we done that. It slows the job down but it would have dried more even. 👍

[@bondobuilt386]

@@michiganengineer8621 Yes I will for sure do that next time. we have done it before and we should have here. I learn every day I pour concrete. 👍

[@simongoossen6489]

When I worked for a contractor, we poured a slab floor to even the granite base. We couldn’t get it to set up due to the solid rock so we laid and evened the pour,went home for the night ,came back 11 hours later and was ready to be finish troweled.

[@bigal25938]

Check it initially, if it is not what you ordered, send it back.

[@johngoogle7626]

Did the cement company offer you a discount on that first truck?

[@micmike]

Well, I would have put the power trowel out the door so I could work on the 6 slump while waiting for the 8 slump to set up...

[@jenrei7294]

I would have poured the second truck and third truck first; and waited till first truck tightened up

[@bondobuilt386]

I thought of that too but the trucks are spaced out 20 min apart but that would have helped.

[@billbone4388]

Back in the 80s I drove mixer for fl mining and materials in ft Myers if we had a reject load the plant would fix load send it new job new ticket same for state dot mix they new ticket go across the street to our dot prestess and pour columns which hold up fl bridges nice hun!

[@williamhunsucker8893]

I would have unloaded number 1 and 2 at same time together in chute

[@bondobuilt386]

Not s bad idea at all 👍

[@fkya206]

I would’ve sent it back and waiting on second truck to start. Unless they wanted to give it to me for the extra time I had to spend finishing floor.

[@bondobuilt386]

Problem is we needed that conveyer truck to place the entire floor. if I could do it over I would have poured it at 3" all over the place then topped it with stiffer mix from the second truck.

[@twinge2254]

Would've bottomed out 2" with the wet stuff and topped off with the good stuff if it was feasible.

[@williamcordle]

I’ve rejected mud before but it was a big condo job where we were flying it by tower crane in 3 yard buckets the had brought us a truck load of gray water and wet rocks the driver had left the water valve on we normally ran around a 6” slump on flat and ran a little drier slump on the vertical walls so the rocks don’t settle as much

[@mariorivas3687]

You always cut your joint that big ??

[@jeffsedletzeck3882]

Check out Super Slump Buster by Fritz Pak

[@bondobuilt386]

Thanks Jeff I will check that out.

[@marcconner8382]

I definitely would have sent it back

[@randymyers5086]

Everybody says it's not going to be as strong and it's not, but your not building a 2 story parking garage either. And yes it will suck when you go to finish. As far as the next load add a little more water to it to help it blend in. Not that big of a deal.

[@TalksWithRyan]

Looks great but I wonder why people want pads so thick ? I guess they think it’ll be better I think 4” pads last the longest myself.

[@TheLarson25]

do a slump test and verify whether the mud can hold up

[@Denoffools]

Good deal

[@GetTheNet1963]

mixed the wet with the other trucks.. don't park heavy trucks on the wet area. It will splinter quickly.

[@thomasnickerson9258]

Always check the slump, before you dump.

[@clydesolomon8533]

You done the right thing, if you had sent it back it would have messed up the whole job as far as timing !

[@bondobuilt386]

I agree only thing I might change is to keep that first truck low and dump over it with the second truck.

[@xmasbruvsgaming8234]

Where are ur conc chairs, mesh doesnt do anything on the bottom

[@robertmccully2792]

How much water did it leave the plant with? On all my big jobs there were special inspections so would have had to reject. But to let them get away with this is a crime in itself.

[@christopherhaak9824]

There should be a mix load ticket for the truck from the batch plant. That is a must for any inspected work like typical Gov. jobs, so you could check that. The hassle of the load rejection is all on the batch plant.

[@stevezickefoose8563]

You saved a few hours for what you buddy has to live with for the next 50 years. a weak slab. You shoulda had a long early lunch and waited for good concrete to show up. Good quality workmanship should always be your priority.

[@danhertel165]

isn't the wire mess going to end up laying on the bottom?

[@traveltrailertipster259]

That sucks. makes the day longer and have to be careful not to seal the top off to much when floating. I'd rather have it a little dry and add water at the job. I'd say the Redi Mix plant owes you a couple 30 packs and some pizza.

[@imagelush5146]

So why not send it back?

[@bondobuilt386]

It would throw the entire job off with timing and we used that first truck to place all the concrete. It had the conveyer

[@registrationhater]

Why is your steel laying on the grade??

[@bondobuilt386]

Don't you see the guy in the blue shirt? His only job was to hook up the wire and that he did. Maybe watch the video again and pay attention this time?

[@tomscott4723]

Self-leveling! That will put u out of business, all the DIY'rs can just dump it in the forms right? haha Just another day at the office.

[@bondobuilt386]

Yup shit happens Tom. LOL DIY would be tough on this big floor. 😊

[@ThisIsSolution]

First rule of concrete I learned, never ever ever be under the shute or conveyor. Never.

[@williamheadrick9173]

What it's like a piece of rebar and punch some holes through the plastic to let some of the water out

[@sjones8738]

Why pour concrete for half of the building? It make sense to cover the entire area with concrete to avoid cracking along the edges.

[@metalrooves3651]

what? cracking along the edges? The guy couldnt afford it maybe..or maybe later...why would you second guess THAT decision?