Watch out for that new quick-set mix they sell at the big box stores

Had a real mess on my hands last week in Springfield. A homeowner bought bags of that fast-track stuff for a small patio pad. He called me in a panic about three hours after he started, saying it was setting up way too fast and he couldn't get a finish on it. By the time I got there, it was already too hard to work. We had to bust out a 10x10 section, about 4 inches thick. The stuff claims a 30-minute open time, but in the 85-degree sun, it was more like 15. Lost a full day and the cost of the concrete. Has anyone else run into this with the off-brand rapid sets? What's your go-to for small repairs that won't turn on you?

2 comments

2 Comments

terryk107d ago

Man, that sounds rough. My buddy had almost the exact same thing happen with a bag from one of those discount places. He was just filling a post hole on a hot day, and it turned to rock in the bucket before he could even pour it. He was left chiseling it out with a screwdriver. I don't trust the open time on any of that cheap rapid set stuff now. For small jobs, I just stick with the regular mix and give it the time it needs.

the_holly7d ago

Ugh, that open time is a total lie in real conditions. They test that stuff in a perfect 70-degree lab, not a hot jobsite. I just plan for it to set in half the time they say, or I don't buy it.