Last week’s blog asking about increased entrained air content when using high-range water reducers (superplasticizers based on polycarboxylates) drew a robust response. It certainly seems that this problem is widespread. I’ve not had time this week to summarize all the responses (next week), so I thought you all might enjoy the wisdom below.
I found this in an old file that I believe was handed down from previous generations of Concrete Construction editors—could be 50 years old or more. I don’t know the source, but found it amusing and containing some nuggets of truth.
"Most of the things said by one segment of the construction industry about another tend to fall in the unprintable category. But the following commentary on the wisdom of architects, engineers, and contractors originated some time before four-letter words came into general use and may therefore bear repeating:
“Architects are said to know a great deal about very little and go along knowing more and more about less and less until finally they know practically everything about nothing. Engineers, on the other hand, know very little about a great deal, and keep knowing less and less about more and more until they know practically nothing about everything. Contractors start out knowing practically everything about everything but end up knowing nothing about anything due to their association with architects and engineers.”
So true!
