EP #149: Got a Low Concrete Break? Here’s What To Do Next

PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMYPractical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career.Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/  EPISODE SUMMARYYou get the 28-day report.It’s low.Now what? In this episode, Seth sits down with Josh Agee, Concrete Quality Assurance Manager at F.A. Wilhelm Construction, to walk through what actually happens when a cylinder comes back below strength.Who do you call first?Is it the mix? The placement? The testing company?When do you use a Swiss hammer? When do you core? And what really matters — the cylinder… or the in-place concrete?This is a practical, field-level conversation about investigating low breaks, managing risk, and protecting your project before things spiral.If you work in structural concrete, this isn’t hypothetical.It’s coming.  WHAT YOU’LL LEARN • Why reviewing batch tickets is the first move • Why the middle third of the truck matters when sampling • How poor field curing can destroy cylinder results • What most people misunderstand about testing tech responsibility • When to use Swiss hammers and Windsor probes • Why coring is often the final answer • What the rolling average actually tells you • When concrete must be removed — and when it doesn’t • How better pre-pour meetings reduce risk  CHAPTERS 00:00 – The low break email no one wants 03:29 – Investigating batch tickets and water additions 05:26 – Why pre-pour meetings matter more than you think 08:07 – Cure box mistakes that happen all the time 13:03 – Non-destructive testing and managing risk 15:11 – Coring and what break patterns tell you 18:26 – Rolling averages and statistical outliers 21:16 – Proper sampling: the middle third rule 23:26 – How cylinders get mishandled 25:02 – Labeling errors that create chaos 26:22 – Lessons learned moving forward  GUEST INFOJosh AgeeConcrete Quality Assurance ManagerF.A. Wilhelm ConstructionProfile: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/josh-agee/  CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERSINTELLIGENT CONCRETEConcrete not behaving the way it should?Intelligent Concrete combines lab-level testing with real-world field experience to identify the true root cause of performance issues — not just treat the symptoms.Reach out for help: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete  CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMYEarn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast:Join now: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academy  SUPPORT THE PODCAST (VALUE FOR VALUE)Concrete Logic operates on a Value-for-Value model.If you get value from the show — whether that’s education, perspective, or just something that makes you better at your craft — consider giving value back.Donate here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate Producer-level supporters get recognized on the episode. This episode’s Producers: Josh Bong Tom Cummings Thank you for supporting independent concrete education. You can also support the show by purchasing your KUIU work, workout, or hunting gear through our link — 10% goes to the podcast at no additional cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries: [email protected]  CREDITS Producers: Josh Bong, Tom Cummings, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/  WHERE TO FIND SETH https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com [email protected]  Until next time…Let’s keep it concrete.