My old boss always said to never set a post in wet concrete, but a job last month proved him wrong.

We were putting up a cedar fence for a client in Portland, and the ground was pure mud from a week of rain. The schedule was tight, and the client needed it done. My lead guy, who's been doing this for twenty years, said we could mix a fast-set concrete and set the posts right then. I argued, remembering my first boss yelling about waiting for dry holes. We went ahead, using Quikrete Fast-Setting mix, and packed it solid. Came back two days later, and every post was rock solid, perfectly plumb. That fence hasn't budged an inch. It made me realize some old rules depend on the product and the conditions. Has anyone else had a situation where a hard rule you learned just didn't apply anymore?

3 comments

3 Comments

nelson.linda1mo ago

Honestly, isn't the point that the right product changes the old rule? Tbh, we've used fast-set in wet holes before with no issues.

jade_miller6217d ago

We did the same thing on a job in Tacoma last year. That fast-set stuff held up fine even with some water seepage. Derek's right though, you gotta pack it like crazy or it's a total gamble.

derekjackson1mo ago

Wow, that's a lucky break. Fast-set mix in pure mud is still a huge risk because water can wash out the cement before it cures. You got it to work because you packed it solid, but that's not a guarantee. The old rule is mostly about regular concrete, which absolutely fails if it's diluted.