Shoutout to the old timer in Tulsa who saved me from a bad pour

I was getting ready to pour a driveway in 95 degree heat last August, and this retired finisher named Bob walked over from the property next door. He asked how much water I had in the mix and told me to cut it by 4 gallons to avoid shrinkage cracking. I listened to him and that slab came out smooth with zero spider cracks. Has anyone else had a random stranger save their job on site?

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angela_coleman4mo ago

Man, isn't it wild how the universe just sends you the exact person you need at the right moment? I've noticed more and more that the people who've been doing something the longest know the little tricks that nobody writes down anywhere. Bob probably learned that water trick back when he was pouring slabs for driveways that still look good 40 years later. It makes you wonder how much everyday wisdom is just walking around in old heads, ready to drop on someone if they're open to listening. Stuff like that is why I always try to shut my mouth and open my ears when someone older starts talking about their craft.

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sagey694mo ago

Four gallons less water in 95 degree heat sounds like the kind of advice that only comes from learning it the hard way first. You think he would have told you anything different if you were pouring in the spring? I wonder how much of that old school knowledge is tied to specific conditions they memorized over decades.

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