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PSA: I had to walk off a job because the foreman wanted to cut curing time
Lately, I've seen a lot of guys in a hurry to finish pours without letting the concrete cure properly. On a recent driveway job, the foreman told us to pull the forms after just one day to save time. The mix was still soft, and I knew it would lead to cracks and low strength down the road. When I brought it up, he said the homeowner was breathing down our necks to get it done fast. It felt wrong to keep working on something that wouldn't last, but speaking up meant possibly losing the job. I chose to leave instead of compromising on the finish. Now I'm short on cash this week, but I can sleep at night. Guess that's the price of sticking to your guns in this line of work.
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jamie_carter877mo ago
Was it a fast set mix or regular stuff? Some of the newer blends can handle early form stripping if the conditions are right. Still, walking off when it feels wrong is solid, even if it costs you.
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joel9567mo ago
We did a 20 yard pour last spring with a standard mix, not fast set. The foreman pushed to strip early because the crew was behind schedule. I said no because the overnight temp dropped way lower than forecast. Let it cure the full 48 hours instead. It turned out rock solid, no crazing. The guy who took over the next phase said he'd seen three other crews that week have issues from rushing it. Sometimes the forecast is your best info, even when it puts you behind.
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brian_smith67mo ago
Absolutely! My buddy's foreman rushed a pour last winter, and the concrete cracked all over. Cost them a week to fix it.
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