Concord Concrete Pouring

Affordable and Durable Concrete Pouring

If you are doing concrete pouring in high wind, low humidity or hot weather, you need to adjust accordingly. In hot weather, you will need to schedule concrete pouring to the coolest hours. You will probably also need a plan on how to keep the concrete cool. For instance, you can block the poured concrete from the direct sunlight using a shade. Alternatively, you can use spraying aggregate to keep concrete cool.

The Concrete Setting

Hydrating helps the concrete to set. It absorbs all water and creates particles around the concrete particles. If the concrete is cooler, this process will take longer. The crystals will also have more time to strengthen. Where concrete pouring is done in hot weather, the crystallization process will happen faster and the concrete won’t have a lot of time to strengthen. The surface layer of concrete may also be affected by evaporation. If there is no water, the slab’s top will have weaker concrete and this makes it susceptible to cracking.

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Cement vs. Concrete

Many concrete contractors Concord use these two terms interchangeably. However, it is worth noting that cement is an ingredient used to make concrete. Concrete is made up of portland cement and water. The paste formed is mined with larger aggregates to form concrete.

Weather Factor

Even though hot weather is a key hindrance to concrete pouring, cement contractors need to maintain the right amount of moisture in the concrete. If the temperature is higher than 85 degrees, it will make this to be hard. High winds and low humidity can also increase the evaporation rate even when the temperature is low.

Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather

Where concrete pouring happens in hot weather, it sets fast producing higher early strength. However, the ultimate strength of the curing process will be lower than expected. To compensate for the conditions, there is a need for the right mix design. Some of the tips of pouring concrete in hot weather include:

• Have enough manpower for concrete management during the pour
• Use bigger sizes of aggregates particles when hot weather happens during concrete placement. Bigger aggregates ensure that the concrete doesn't shrink as a result of environmental conditions.
• Don’t patch concrete at noon or in the afternoon
• Organize with your supplier on the batch to be delivered at the right delivery temperature
• Consult your designer or concrete contractor to create an effective plan for proper space control joints. In hot weather, the control joints should close to one another as compared to concrete joints in cold weather.
• Use windbreak or sunshade to minimize any harsh conditions.
• Ensure that indoor slabs are poured after the construction of walls and roof
• To minimize harsh conditions, use windbreaks and sunshades
• Add ice or liquid nitrogen in the concrete water mix
• Minimize the mixing time  after adding water to the mix
• Ensure that batching and mixing is done at the job site
• Avoid adding water to premixed concrete if isn’t part of the design
• Keep equipment covered until you start using them

Hire Concord Concrete and Masonry Pros

Mixing concrete in hot weather can be a challenge. With the above tips, you can easily overcome these hindrances. However, for the best results, talk to a qualified and experienced concrete contractor Concord. If you don’t know of a good cement contractor, you can call Concord Concrete and Masonry on  (925) 329-3594.