Pouring Concrete in Winter | Pouring Concrete Foundation in Winter | Cold Weather Concrete Mix

Effect Of Cold Weather on Concrete| Curing Concrete in Cold Weather | Cold Weather Concrete Mix

Pouring Concrete in Winter: Pouring Concrete Foundation in Winter

Before starting a cold weather concrete project, it is critical to ascertain any particular strength requirements or considerations. This will assist in scheduling your pours and determining the tactics you will apply to keep your surroundings and materials warm.

The primary problem you will have while working with winter concrete is ensuring that the concrete sets before it is exposed to cold conditions.

Concrete, particularly fresh and early-age concrete, can be badly affected by frost and ice in extremely cold weather.

When fresh concrete cools below 0ºC, the water in the mix freezes and expands, resulting in interior cracking and surface blistering. Saturated mature concrete can also be adversely affected by low temperatures.

Certain steps can be taken to mitigate, if not completely eliminate, frost damage to concrete, and the following advice, while not exhaustive, will assist in protecting concrete from frost damage.

Concrete Pouring Tips for the Winter/Cold Weather

Curing Concrete in Cold Weather

There are several critical aspects to consider when pouring concrete in the winter. The lower the curing concrete’s temperature, the longer the maturation process will take.

While low temperatures retard the curing process, they also result in increased compressive strength.

For example, while concrete cured at 54 degrees Fahrenheit takes longer to attain a compressive strength of 3,500 PSI than concrete cured at 90 degrees, the former will cure with the ability to withstand higher pressures.

Simply put, a colder cure temperature results in a stronger concrete. There is, however, a freezing point.

When concrete cures at a temperature less than 50 degrees, the maturation process is exponentially slower than when it cures at a temperature more than 50 degrees.

Below the 40-degree threshold, the maturation process is inefficiently fast. At temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the curing process proceeds at such a snail’s pace that a construction project becomes unaffordable delayed.

Be Aware of Freezing

Be aware that if the temperature of curing concrete dips below freezing at any stage, it can damage the concrete. When water in uncured concrete freezes, it destroys the concrete matrix — the chemical bond.

If concrete freezes before achieving the required compressive strength of 500 PSI, it will never cure properly. While a cold cure is preferable, allowing uncured concrete to freeze is dangerous.

Methods for Accelerating the Cure

There are two ways to expedite concrete curing. One solution is to increase the cement content of the mix. A larger ratio of concrete to aggregate/sand accelerates the maturation process.

Cement, on the other hand, is only an adhesive. In comparison to sand and aggregate, it does not significantly increase the compressive strength of concrete. More concrete, which contains less sand and aggregate, results in a weaker structure.

As a side note, concrete’s water content is constant.  Regardless of the temperature, the lower the sum of water in a mix ratio, the better. In terms of compression strength, the less water present, the better.

The alternative method for extending the cure period and avoiding uncured concrete from freezing is to raise the concrete’s temperature. Concrete cures more quickly when the temperature exceeds 50 degrees.

Three methods exist for maintaining the temperature of concrete: mixing it hot; preheating the ground before to pouring; and finishing the concrete with heat blankets.

Hot Concrete Mixing

Concrete curing is increased when hot water heaters designed for use in concrete are mixed with the heat generated by the chemical process that happens when cement hydrates.

Hot water heaters are a dependable way to ensure that the temperature does not go below freezing while the concrete is being finished.

While this is a temporary solution, mixing concrete while it is hot allowing finishers the extra time necessary to complete a pour with measured precision. Water heaters perform optimally when combined with space heaters.

Additional Tips on Concrete Pouring in Cold Weather/Winter

• Use products designed to set quickly. During cold weather, these products will not set as quickly as the instructions may indicate, but will set faster than conventional materials.
• Use additives that accelerate set time. Use caution; if additives contain calcium chloride, any rebar or metal wire mesh in concrete will rust and cause concrete to crack.
• Remember that you still need to wait for bleed water to evaporate. Incorporating the water into the surface during finishing will weaken the surface. Bleeding starts later and takes longer during cold weather; you can use squeegees or a vacuum to remove water quickly.
• Use extra cement (typically 100 lb/ cubic yard) to make the reaction hotter and cause concrete to hydrate more rapidly.
• Wait until concrete has reached desired strength to remove any framework. If the framework is removed too early, the concrete will be damaged and the surface could collapse.

Cold Weather Concrete Mix

There are three things to remember about pouring concrete in the winter: temperatures above 50 degrees, but as close to it as possible is good for compressive strength; the freezing of uncured concrete is the worst possible scenario; and if you can only choose one means of keeping uncured concrete warm, choose electric blankets.

Counter the effects of freezing temperatures by doing any or all of the following steps:

• Add additional cement to your mix
• Heat the aggregates in the mix
• Add hot water instead of cold
• Use a water-reducer to reduce bleed water
• Add a chemical accelerator, such as calcium chloride or a non-chloride admixture

Effect Of Cold Weather on Concrete

The longevity of concrete is a major concern for many construction professionals, and cold weather can be one factor that shortens the life span. In this blog post we’ll examine how temperature affects concrete and provide some tips on how to mitigate these effects.

In order to understand how cold temperatures, affect concrete, it’s important to know what its primary component is: cement.

Cement reacts with water and other materials in a process called hydration, which produces calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H). This reaction causes heat as a byproduct—the higher the temperature, the faster it happens.

When you add water to cement at below freezing temperatures, there isn’t enough liquid available for proper hydration and therefore no heat is generated.

At sub-zero temperatures, concrete will deflate1. The less water that’s present in the mix, the more susceptible the concrete will be to this effect.

As a result, concrete may dry out significantly over time and become brittle, cracking or shattering when it’s exposed to high winds and extreme temperatures.

Additionally, a buildup of water inside the concrete at sub-zero temperatures is problematic because it can lead to additional cracking due to freezing or expansion issues (thermal expansion).

The only way to overcome the issues associated with cold weather is to heat your concrete. But if you’re working in a commercial setting that isn’t feasible, there are other strategies you can employ.

One option is using non-freezing water additives. These products react with the cement in a way that produces heat, which helps reduce the effects of cold weather.

They can also lengthen the lifetime of your concrete and help prevent premature wear and tear from cracks.

These additives can also prevent concrete from freezing, which can make it more durable and help prevent icy pavement when road crews are working.

How To Place Concrete in Cold Weather?

The bulk of cold weather concrete procedures emphasize the importance of exterior and internal temperatures and their direct relationship to concrete curing.

Heating the mixing water and/or aggregates, as well as supplying the concrete, are two methods by which your ready-mix provider can regulate the temperature.

Chemical admixtures and other additives to the concrete can accelerate setting and increase strength. In the winter, suppliers frequently utilize chemical admixtures to accelerate and water-reduce the process, respectively.

Although calcium chloride is a widely used accelerator, it should never exceed 2% by weight of cement.

If prestressed concrete is used or if contact corrosion is a possibility, non-chloride, non-corrosive accelerators should be used instead.

However, keep in mind that using an accelerating additive does not prevent the concrete from freezing, nor does it reduce the requirement for minimum concrete temperatures and proper curing protection.

Another way to overcome the constraints of cold weather concreting is to increase the amount of Portland cement.

If this combination is specifically intended for durability, certain circumstances may allow you to reduce the relative quantity of fly ash and/or ground slag in the cementitious material.

Is Winter Good for Concrete?

In any winter climate, concrete undergoes some seasonal changes over the course of a year. Winter poses a few challenges for concrete with freezing and freezing-thawing cycles. However, these challenges are offset by the benefits of winter to the strength and durability of the concrete.

Winter is not typically considered to be a great time for concrete as it faces some cold temperatures. Cold increases the potential for a freeze-thaw cycle, which is a cycle where the concrete has moisture in it that is frozen and thawed quickly.

During the freeze-thaw cycle, the ice in the concrete expands and moves, often causing the concrete to crack. This cycle is more likely to occur in areas where there is low snow cover over the

In any winter climate, concrete undergoes some seasonal changes over the course of a year. Winter poses a few challenges for concrete with freezing and freezing-thawing cycles.

However, these challenges are offset by the benefits of winter to the strength and durability of the concrete.

Winter is not typically considered to be a great time for concrete as it faces some cold temperatures. Cold increases the potential for a freeze-thaw cycle, which is a cycle where the concrete has moisture in it that is frozen and thawed quickly.

During the freeze-thaw cycle, the ice in the concrete expands and moves, often causing the concrete to crack. This cycle is more likely to occur in areas where there is low snow cover over the concrete.

Placing & Curing Concrete in Cold Weather

To protect concrete in cold weather, the concrete should be kept warm during the curing process—over 5˚C for the first 48 hours. Concrete strength development is critical during the first 48 hours. But if it is below 5˚C, concrete will take longer to develop its required strength.

Ideally, you will maintain concrete temperatures above 10˚C (50˚F) for the first three to seven days. And for at least four more days after, maintain the concrete temperature above 4˚C (40˚F). Be careful not to let the concrete temperature drop more than 4˚C in 24 hours.

Frost blankets and insulated formwork can help keep concrete warm enough and protect it from the cold. So be sure to cover the concrete slab with a plastic sheet, and then cover the plastic sheet with insulating blankets.

Concrete pouring in winter is possible. You just need to take the necessary precautions to ensure the concrete isn’t at risk of freezing, cracking, and not curing to its desired strength.

Tips for Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather

If you’re pouring concrete in hot weather that exceeds 77°F, it’s important to plan ahead. Offset detrimental effects from heat, humidity and wind with the following tips:

• Avoid pouring during the hottest parts of the day.
• Use sunshades or windbreaks for protection.
• Store bags of concrete in the shade, garage or other cool area before using.
• Dampen the subgrade before pouring your concrete slab.
• Add ice to your concrete water mix to help cool down temperatures.
• Once water is added to the mix, reduce mixing time.
• Make sure you have help—from managing the pouring to overseeing the curing

Can You Pour Cement in The Winter?

Concrete should never be poured over frozen ground, snow, or ice. Before laying concrete, defrost the ground with heaters and use insulation blankets or heated enclosures to keep the concrete temperature above 50° Fahrenheit for three to seven days.

In cold weather, it is recommended that concrete has a low slump and a low water-to-cement ratio to minimize bleeding and set time.

Make use of concrete curing blankets to prevent freezing and maintain an ideal curing temperature for the concrete.

Can You Pour Concrete in The Rain?

Yes, it is possible to pour concrete in the rain, albeit it is not recommended. While rain creates complications, it does not usually necessitate rescheduling as long as sufficient precautions are taken.

Regrettably, as winter approaches, damp weather and storms become increasingly prevalent. It is not always possible to schedule your concrete pour for a completely clear day, and you may be pressed for time, forcing you to pour concrete in the rain.

Even before a concrete slab is installed, rain can be damaging if it oversaturates the subgrade and creates ponding. This is because the excess water may be absorbed by the fresh concrete, so altering the water-cement ratio.

If heavy rain is anticipated a day or two before the downpour, cover the ground with plastic sheeting to keep it dry. Learn more about concrete slab subgrades and subbases.

Rain can also have a detrimental effect on newly sealed concrete, causing the sealer to bubble and blister. Apply the sealer when the area will stay rain-free for at least 24 hours after sealing.