Loading…
21
My old boss told me to always set posts in wet concrete, even in winter.
He said it was the only way to get a solid hold in our cold Michigan winters. I did it for years, even on a job in Grand Rapids last December when the temp was 15 degrees. The whole line of posts heaved by spring because the concrete froze before it cured. Cost me three grand to fix. Now I only use foam backfill below 40 degrees. Anyone else have a hard rule that turned out to be totally wrong for your area?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
felix1476mo ago
It's wild how many old rules, like yours or @kim963's, just fall apart in real conditions.
6
the_kevin5mo ago
Honestly, I used to swear by a certain type of sealant until it failed in a freeze-thaw cycle. Now I just follow the manufacturer's temp guidelines, no matter what the old guys say.
6
kim9636mo ago
Yeah, that's a tough lesson to learn the hard way. Had a similar thing with a "never water at night" rule for new sod. Stuck to it during a brutal dry spell and lost half a lawn because the sun just baked it. Now I water in the early evening if that's the only time the ground will actually soak it up. Sometimes the old rules just don't fit the actual weather you're dealing with.
4