Appreciation post: An old foreman showed me the burlap drag method on a big outdoor slab in Phoenix last July and it completely changed how I finish warm weather pours.

We were fighting the sun with a 6 yard pour and he just grabbed a wet burlap, dragged it slow across the surface before floating. Has anyone else tried this for getting a uniform texture when it's over 100 degrees?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscar7436d ago

Have you tried wetting the slab first before you pour? That burlap trick works like a charm but I've found keeping the subgrade damp helps even more when it's that hot. We used to do it in Vegas all the time and it buys you an extra 10-15 minutes before the surface starts setting up. Just gotta be careful not to oversoak it or you'll mess with your slump.

faith_carter4d ago

Oh man, that subgrade wetting trick saved my hide on a 98 degree day in Phoenix last July. I soaked the ground until it was just damp, like a wet sponge you wrung out halfway, and it gave me a solid 12 extra minutes before the sun started cooking the surface. I also learned the hard way that oversoaking turns your slab into a muddy mess and blows your water-cement ratio to hell. Your Vegas experience totally backs that up, it's a game changer when you're fighting the heat.