Let’s face it; British weather is unpredictable at the best of times, and even in the summer months, you can never truly rely on the weather forecast to offer up an accurate prediction. The weather can play havoc with your laying of concrete, with both extreme heat and bitterly cold conditions impacting the successful application of concrete solutions. In this post, we take a closer look at key tips for laying concrete in cold conditions:
Check The Forecast
When thinking about preparing and pouring your concrete solution over the winter months, particularly between October and February, it’s always a smart idea to check the weather forecast in advance. Freezing cold temperatures are no friend of concrete, which is why it should never be exposed to temperatures below 5℃ for longer than a period of 24 hours. This is due to the fact that there is a percentage of water in concrete that makes up part of the mixture, which will inevitably freeze when exposed to temperatures below 0℃. This will cause your concrete mixture to expand and, in extension, become unfit for purpose.
Don’t Freeze
As suggested, it’s essential that you ensure your freshly laid concrete doesn’t freeze, especially within the first 24 hours of installation. The water within the concrete will quickly expand under cold conditions, which will disrupt the cement’s hydration process, potentially impacting the overall strength of your concrete by up to 50%.
Frost Prevention
If you are laying concrete over the winter months and are faced with cold conditions, you’ll need to ensure your concrete does not freeze after application by laying thermal blankets over your freshly poured concrete. This will insulate as much heat as possible, which is generated during the concrete curing process, helping to prevent your concrete solution from freezing, expanding and becoming worthless.
Cavity Protection
When laying your concrete, it’s important to ensure the ground is at an appropriate temperature, ice and frost are thawed, and the flooring is suitable for concrete laying. It’s vital you don’t pour your concrete mix directly onto a surface that is covered in ice or frost, as this will likely result in expansion. Before laying your concrete, always check your trenches and cavities for frost, and thaw them by using building site heaters or thermal blankets before you lay your concrete down.
Looking for a reliable commercial concrete contractor in Central Scotland? At Forth Valley Concrete, we’re specialist concrete mix suppliers with everything you need, and we’re proud to offer same or next day concrete delivery to your site. Our mixer trucks cover a wide selection of areas across Central Scotland, including Falkirk, Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond. Contact us today.