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Best Concrete Pouring Practices For Summer
by TRP Ready Mix on August 11, 2022
How To Pour Concrete When It’s Hot
Summer is a great time to do outdoor projects, but pouring concrete in summer can be a downright miserable experience if you don’t follow the right practices.
Let’s dive right in.
Use a concrete mix designed for hot weather. If you have to pour concrete in the summer, use the correct type of concrete. There are many different types of ready-mixed concrete and it’s important to choose one that is designed for use when it’s hot outside.
Use a fast-setting concrete mix. Fast-setting cement will set much faster than ordinary cement so it won’t cool down as much before they set, which means there’s less time for them to become brittle and break apart while they’re being worked with.
What Is the Ideal Temperature for Pouring Concrete?
When it comes to pouring concrete, the ideal temperature is between 50 and 70 degrees. With temperatures above 70 degrees, the concrete may be more difficult to work with. If you’re working in an environment where the temperature will exceed 85 degrees, you should use polymer-modified cement that’s designed for hot weather applications as opposed to plain cement.
Read More: Concrete Pouring Done Right
The reason for this is that as temperatures increase, expansion rates also increase—which means that water from your mix can evaporate quicker than an unmodified cement would allow. If you’re working outside in 90-degree heat with an unmodified cement mixture, there’s a good chance that it will already have started drying out before you even finish pouring your foundation!
How to Avoid Concrete Drying Too Fast?
If you follow these tips, you can help keep your concrete from drying too fast. Firstly, keep the concrete moist by misting it with water as it’s being placed. Next, use a wetting agent to maximize absorption and retention of moisture.
Finally, make sure the temperature is cool enough for the cement to cure properly and not crack or flake away prematurely. If you live in a warmer climate, consider using a retarder additive when mixing your concrete so that it will take longer to dry out.
Of course, this is different if you are using salt-based concrete as engineers in the U.A.E have recently developed. Though you should consult your supplier or an expert before trying any experimental mixtures.
What Temperature Does It Have to Be for Concrete to Cure?
What’s the perfect temperature for pouring concrete in summer? Concrete will harden as soon as it is poured, but it will take longer to cure. The curing time depends on the temperature of your concrete and how fast you want it to be set up.
Concrete that’s poured when temperatures are above freezing will cure faster than one that’s poured when temperatures are below freezing. On the other hand, if you’re in a warm climate where summer weather lasts all year round (like Arizona), then there’s no reason not to pour your concrete right away—just make sure you follow these tips for pouring concrete.
Tips for Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather
So is it better to pour concrete in summer or winter? First, let’s look at pouring in hot weather. Start by using a misting system. This is an effective way to cool the concrete and keep it from drying too quickly.
Next, use a concrete cooler. A concrete cooler can be used in combination with a misting system or without one. It depends on your needs and budget.
They’re useful in both warm weather and cold weather. But they’re particularly helpful during very hot weather. This is because they will allow you to better control how fast the concrete hardens so that you can achieve optimal results with minimal waste of materials.
Remember to use a pump instead of buckets or trowels when pouring your next batch of cement or mortar.
Pouring with pumps allows for greater accuracy than other methods (and less mess!), which means better quality workmanship overall. Plus, these pumps cost less than other methods over time.
This is because there won’t be any extra labor costs involved in cleaning up after every day’s work has been completed. Therefore, nobody has anything left behind them when they leave each morning–just fresh drywall ready for installation tomorrow morning!
Tips for Pouring Concrete in Winter
Cold weather additives are used to help your concrete cure faster in cold temperatures. This is often added to the mix when pouring concrete in winter, and it helps reduce the amount of heat required for curing. It also helps with workability and flowability during installation.
Use a lightweight Concrete Mix to help your structure gain strength faster. It will also reduce the risk of cracking or sinking due to excess moisture. You can use bagged or pre-mixed concrete for this purpose, but if you know exactly what kind of project you’re going to be doing make sure that you choose one specifically designed for winter use.
Read More: How to Use Ready Mix Concrete in the Winter
Use a cement Retarder. This slows down the setting time of concrete by increasing its hydration rate (the chemical reaction between water and cement).
It also allows more time for any air bubbles trapped in your mixture before they have a chance to expand during curing processes such as freezing weather conditions. This would otherwise cause cracking later down the line after everything has hardened and completely solidified.
Remember, if in doubt about best practices, be sure to ask your concrete supplier. They will usually have the answer or will be able to point you in the right direction.
Pouring Concrete in Summer Doesn’t Have to Be Hard Work
Concrete is the best choice for your home or business. It can withstand harsh conditions and last for decades if cared for properly. Now that you know how to pour concrete during hot summer days, you can make sure that your project stays on schedule and looks amazing when it’s finished.
For more tips and tricks on the perfect temperature for pouring concrete in summer or to buy concrete from us be sure to contact us today.
