Warning: Mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow on a hot day will ruin your schedule

I figured I could knock out 8 post holes and set them in 4 hours last July. Ended up taking almost 7 because the concrete started going off in the barrow halfway through the third mix, had to chisel it out with a hammer. Anyone else had that happen on a 90+ degree day?

3 comments

3 Comments

robinf512d ago

Figure out what brand of cement this guy was using? Pat is onto something with the type question but I bet the real killer is the water temperature not just the cement blend.

miles_roberts3d ago

Halfway through the third mix"? Man that hurts. I've been there. Had a buddy who tried to do a small slab in August, 95 degrees. His second wheelbarrow load set up so fast he had to toss the whole thing in the dumpster. Took him two hours with a chisel to clean the barrow out.

pat_fisher243d ago

Did he at least try the ice water trick? I've heard some guys throw a bag of ice in the mix water when it's that hot out. Stupid question but was he using Type I or Type II cement? Type III sets so fast in heat you might as well be pouring quickrete.