Due to its strength, durability, easy handling, fire resistance, and many more characteristics, concrete is the most commonly used material for construction. Are you someone planning to pour concrete slab yourself? You should know that pouring concrete, setting, and curing it cannot be that easy as you might think.
This all is due to different weather conditions. It’s very easy to pour concrete, but its strength and lifespan depend way too much on how you manage it while pouring (especially in terms of weather).
If your previous concrete pouring experiences weren’t successful or thinking about doing it for the first time, you are at the right place. This blog will discuss some tips for pouring concrete in cold, warm, and rainy weather.
Pouring Concrete in Winters
Follow these tips to pour concrete in cold weather successfully.
- Begin by getting rid of snow or ice from the pour site. Avoid pouring concrete into the frozen area.
- Early morning is the best time to pour concrete as it can reap the full benefits of the afternoon sun.
- Use additional products to accelerate the set time of concrete.
- Curing blankets help keep the concrete at the ideal curing temperature and prevent freezing.
- Anything that needs to be embedded in concrete like wire mesh or rebar should be above the freezing point before it contacts freshly poured concrete.
- While water is still bleeding, avoid finishing functions.
- Use a heated mix.
- Avoid using de-icing salts once the concrete is hard.
Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather
A few tips for good concrete pour in hot weather:
- Use larger size coarse aggregates.
- If feasible, pour concrete at night due to lower temperatures.
- It’s good to use chilled water or an industrial chiller when mixing concrete.
- To minimize harsh weather conditions, use windbreaks or sunshades.
- Once you’ve poured water into the mix, minimize the mixing time.
- Cover all the equipment and machinery and only uncover when about to use.
Pouring Concrete in Rain
Pouring concrete in rainy weather can be a lot tougher. A simple way to skip all the trouble is to avoid concrete pouring in the rain. But delaying the operation is not always best for project deadlines. If you’re experiencing prolonged periods of rain and need to continue with the project, follow these tips to achieve maximum effective results.
- Ensure you have an efficient drainage system to get rid of the rainwater. This way, no water gets into trenches dug for slabs or foundations.
- Cover the concrete pour with tarps to avoid rainwater getting mixed with concrete. Excessive water mixing with semi-solid concrete will cause unsatisfactory results.
- Avoid rainwater soaking up with dry cement. This can damage the uppermost concrete layer.
Conclusion
Pouring concrete in a perfect manner can be more difficult than you may anticipate. Controlling weather is an impossible thing, but we can control the way we manage certain elements of concrete construction.
At WM Trucking & Excavating, we are always eager to help our clients find the best ways to execute operations. Contact us today for expert advice and construction services in Hockley, TX, and nearby areas.