I am pouring a series of concrete slabs for a patio and I’m using standard 80lb Quikrete bags (https://www.homedepot.com/p/100318511).
The directions recommend 3qts of water per bag and a max of 4.5qts. Everything I’ve read states that even one extra quart of water can reduce strength by 40%.
I live in the desert, and the air is incredibly dry. I don’t know how that affects the ratio, but it takes about 5qts of water to get a bag to any kind of a workable consistency. With 5qts, the concrete looks about like what I see in the various videos I’ve watched.
My question is am I doing anything wrong or is this ok? These slabs will only ever carry light foot traffic, but I don’t want them to crack.
Surely getting the concrete to the correct consistency is more appropriate than sticking to the strict water ratio. Or no?