"A question or concern we often hear from our Buyers: How will building in the winter affect our home’s quality? Most of the concern relates to concrete. There are a few steps we take to ensure that concrete is placed correctly.
The most important thing to remember is that concrete must maintain a temperature of 55 degrees for the first 24 hours after it is placed. This temperature is necessary to allow the chemical reaction between the cement and the water to take place. In order to make sure we can achieve 55 degrees, we do not place concrete unless the outside temperature is 36 degrees and rising. We also watch for severe nighttime lows. If it is too cold, we don’t pour.
Another step we take is admixtures. Add mixtures are chemicals added to the concrete at the plant that either speed up or slow down the hydration process. In the winter we want to speed it up. This is done by using hot water in the mix and often changing the cement to Type III Hi- Early cement.
Another important step is protecting the concrete after it has been poured. This is done with specifically designed concrete blankets. These blankets will be placed over foundation walls and flatwork after pour is complete and left in place over night and sometimes longer.
Something else to consider in the winter is allowing the concrete more time than normal to cure prior to backfilling a foundation or adding weight bearing to a slab."
Thanks, Mick!
The most important thing to remember is that concrete must maintain a temperature of 55 degrees for the first 24 hours after it is placed. This temperature is necessary to allow the chemical reaction between the cement and the water to take place. In order to make sure we can achieve 55 degrees, we do not place concrete unless the outside temperature is 36 degrees and rising. We also watch for severe nighttime lows. If it is too cold, we don’t pour.
Another step we take is admixtures. Add mixtures are chemicals added to the concrete at the plant that either speed up or slow down the hydration process. In the winter we want to speed it up. This is done by using hot water in the mix and often changing the cement to Type III Hi- Early cement.
Another important step is protecting the concrete after it has been poured. This is done with specifically designed concrete blankets. These blankets will be placed over foundation walls and flatwork after pour is complete and left in place over night and sometimes longer.
Something else to consider in the winter is allowing the concrete more time than normal to cure prior to backfilling a foundation or adding weight bearing to a slab."
Thanks, Mick!
No comments:
Post a Comment