Saturday, June 6, 2009

Shouldn't have joked...

We had a shed setback today. It will turn out fine, but progress has been very slow. We used some concrete that apparently was old? Had already activated? And didn't set. Poured the last 2 footers for the shed on Weds. and when they still were green today, we smashed them up and will start over tomorrow.

Grrr.

We sprung for the super-quick set concrete, so tomorrow we'll either have good, solid piers or have made ANOTHER total mess. Anyone care to place a wager?


The good news is that we framed the back wall and cleaned, prepped, and painted the little window we got for the shed. And then Ken took me out for a stroll to the store for a Slush Puppy, in our crummy work clothes. I got blue, of course.

6 comments:

Kristen said...

Whoa. What do you even do with non-set concrete? I imagine swear at it and cry a little?

Karen Anne said...

Smashed it? I was envisioning it still fluid? What does non-set mean? (Glad it isn't mine, anyway :-)

Todd - Home Construction Improvement said...

I'm a bit surprised at your situation. I say that because of how cement actually works chemically. Cement particles react with water in a hydration process. Once it's exposed to water just one time it will become hard and non powder like. Did it look like powder in the bag? Is it possible that you added too much water?

Sandy said...

I was wondering the same thing about the water.

BobnBetty's Bungalow said...

Oh no! I have had a similar problem once when I was making stepping stones. They did eventually harden only to crumble into a million pieces a couple months later. So, its a good thing you decided to start all over.

sarah said...

OK - the concrete was old, sat in the garage all winter, seemed OK out of the bag. Don't worry, we've got a professional chemist here and it came down to either: a) it was activated somehow living outside all winter (though unfer cover), or b) added too much water + it was almost down to 40 degrees overnight + it was humid. We were thoroughly surprised too - have never had that happen.