Showerthought: That job in Bakersfield where the homeowner wanted a 'mirror finish' on a 40 foot driveway.

They insisted on using a cheap mix from a local yard, which set up way too fast in the 95 degree heat. I had to bring in two extra guys just to keep up with the bull float, and we still ended up with a few hairline cracks. Anyone ever talk a client out of a bad mix choice, or do you just take the money and do the best you can?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily891mo ago

Wouldn't you just refuse the job if you knew the mix was wrong from the start?

lily_ramirez41mo ago

Yeah I read something about how refusing can hurt your reputation in some fields. They said it's better to be known as a problem solver, not the person who says no. So sometimes you just have to figure it out.

angelacooper28d ago

A friend of mine in chemical engineering took a batch mixing job she knew was off spec because her boss pressured her. She spent two weeks trying to fix the formula on her own, and it ended up costing the company thousands in wasted materials. She told me later that saying no upfront would have saved everyone time and her own reputation in the long run.