Why does nobody wet the subgrade before pouring?

I was on a job last month in Austin where a crew just dumped concrete straight onto dry, dusty ground. By the time we finished the pour, the edges were already setting faster than the middle (you know, from the ground sucking out the moisture). I keep seeing finishers skip this step and then wonder why they get cracking or uneven cure. Has anyone else dealt with explaining this to guys who should know better?

2 comments

2 Comments

lilymurphy17d ago

Dry ground kills a pour fast. Wet it down first or deal with the cracks.

dakota_fox17d ago

@lilymurphy idk man, wetting can actually mess with the subgrade compaction in some soils.