PROBLEM CAUSE
EXCESSIVE BLEEDING EXCESS WATER IN THE MIX REDUCE WATER CONTENT
NOT ENOUGH FINES IN THE MIX
AGGREGATE SEGREGATION TOO HIGH SLUMP
OVER VIBRATION
NOT ENOUGH VIBRATION
TOO LONG OF DROP FOR PLACEMENT
LACK OF HOMOGENEITY IN THE MIX
STICKY FINISH TOO MUCH AIR ENTRAINMENT
SURFACE DRYTIG TOO FAST
SETTING TOO FAST HIGH TEMPERATURES
HIGH CEMENT CONTENT
TRUCKS GETTING HOT FROM SUN
SETTING UP TOO SLOW MIX TOO LEAN
COLD/WET SUBGRADE
TOO RAPID LOSS OF WATER. HIGH
PLASTIC SHRINKAGE CRACKING
WINDS, HEAR OR LOW HUMIDITY
WRONG RATIO OF WATER, CEMENT
LOW YIELD
AND AGGREGATES
COMMON CONCRETE PROBLEMS
PREVENTION & CORRECTIONS
INCREASE THE CEMENT OR SAND
ADD SUPERPLASTICIZER
REDUCE VIBRATION IN EACH LOCATION
INCREASE VIBRATOR AT CLOSE INTERVALS
USE APPROPRIATE DROP CHUTES
INCREASE MIX TIME, ADD AIR ENTRAINMENT
REDUCE AIR AND/OR FINES
SPRAY WATER ON SUBGRADE AND FORMS
USE COOLER WATER IN MIX OR COOL AGGREFATE
WITH WATER
ADD WATER REDUCING RETARDER
SPRINKLE MIXING DRUMS DURING WAIT OR
RESCHEDULE DELIVERIES FOR MINIMUM WAIT
TIME
INCREASE CEMENT CONTENT OR USE
ACCELERATOR
INSULATE AND OR PROTECT BEFORE PLACEMENT
OF CONCRETE
FOG SPRAY AT CURING. DO NOT USE VAPOR
RETARDER. SET UP WIND BREAKS
HAVE TEST RUN
 FLAT SLABS
WRONG SPACING AND DEPTH OF CUT JOINTS ¼ THE DEPTH OF SLAB. SPACE JOINTS
SHRINKAGE CRACKS
CONTRACTION JOINTS AT 2 ½ TIMES THE THICKNESS
PLAN TO SAW THE SAME DAY AS POUR, WITHIN 4
LATE JOINT SAWING
HOURS

NO ISOLATION JOINTS AT WALL OR COLUMNS INSTALL ISOLATION JOINTS

EXCEESIVE SHRINKAGE REDUCE WATER IN MIX

HAIRLINE CRACKS TOO HIGH SLUMP OF CONCRETE REDUCE WATER

TOO EARLY TROWELLING OR TOO MUCH REDUCE THE METHODS OF TROWELLING BY

TROWELLING CONTRACTOR

RAPID SURFACE DRYING CURE CONCRETE IMMEDIATELY AFTER FINISHING

SLAB CLOSED TOO SOON, TRAPPING AIR AND

BLISTERING DELAY FLOATING AND TROWELLING
WATER
UNEVEN DRYING BETWEEN TOP OF SLAB AND
CURLING USE LOWER SLUMP
LOWER PARTS

WALLS
REDUCE HEIGHT OF THE POUR. INSERT
HONEYCOMB NOT ENOUGH VIBRATION VIBRATOR MORE OFTEN. ADD
SUPERPLASTICIZERS
AIR OR WATER TRAPPED AGAINST REDUCE AIR ENTRAINMENT. VIBRATE AS CLOS
SURFACE VOIDS
FORMWORKS TO FORN AS POSSIBLE.