Concrete on Cold Weather

 Concrete on Cold Weather
Concrete on Cold Weather

At a job site weather conditions can vary from cold or hot, humid or dry. The weather conditions may be different from the condition which was assumed during mixing of the concrete.in cold weather conditions concrete can survive so long as enough precautions are taken to prevent effects of low temperatures.in Americas concrete institution they define concreting in cold weather as the period that is more than on three consecutive days the air temperature will go below 40 degrees or for more than 50 degrees for a period of more than a half of an hour in any 24 hour period.

The definition of cold weather in concreting potentially leads to more problems while freezing the concrete at an age. Concrete should be preserved from freezing until it reaches the minimum expected strength of 500 pounds and this is only per a square inch which usually happens during the first day. If by any chance concrete freezes before developing enough strength to be able to resist any expansive forces that are brought with freezing water or during when it is still fresh the ice formation that occurs disrupts the paste made of cement and water causing it to get weak.

Again, early freezing results in the reduction to up to 50% of its normal strength, concrete is considered very strong and is able to resist any expansions and even damages when it is frozen. Concrete temperature during delivery makes it necessary to heat the materials to provide correct temperatures for the concrete to survive but then the use of hot cement in not preferred as the most appropriate while raising the very first concrete temperature.

The process of placing the concrete, consolidating and finishing needs a lot of protecting it.If it is exposed to cold weather that extends the time for the concrete to get to initial set, thus requiring the finishing team to be present. Windbreaks are for protecting concrete and the construction workers from the biting winds which cause excess evaporations. Consider heated enclosures for protecting the concrete which is also the most expensive.

Concrete should never be let to freeze during the initial 24 hours so it should be kept in hot temperatures. When it is covered in insulation probability of losing adequate water which is done to impair concrete curing.it is good to consider using forms as they assist in proper distribution of heat. Also it is very crucial to avoid rapid cooling of concrete during heating because it may cause thermal cracking. Get tips for curing concrete in cold weather and check which important to keep in your mind.