That Monday pouring a 90-foot wall in 95 degree heat was my best day on the job all year

I know most guys hate working in the hot summer months. But last July, I had a job down near Austin where we had to lay a retaining wall behind a new house. The mix was starting to set faster than usual, and I had to work quick with my crew. We finished the whole pour by 2 PM, no cracks, no cold joints. The homeowner came out with ice water for us and said it looked better than the foundation his other guy did. Made me remember why I got into this trade. Has anyone else had a crazy hot day that actually went perfect?

2 comments

2 Comments

wells.morgan21d ago

Was the homeowner actually surprised or did they look like they had already been burned by crappy work before? I'm guessing they knew exactly what to look for.

troy99621d ago

Start by saying that most homeowners who've had bad work before can spot hack jobs from a mile away. I've seen it a bunch where a homeowner will point out things I didn't even notice at first, like a crooked outlet cover or a gap in the drywall mud. They get that "I've seen some stuff" look in their eyes, you know? But honestly, a lot of first-time homeowners are pretty clueless about what to look for. They trust the contractor until they see a big crack in the ceiling or water staining on the wall. So it's a mix, but the truly surprised ones are usually the ones who haven't been burned yet.