Can you do projects with concrete in hot weather?
Here’s how to have a successful summer pour
“It’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk.”
While this may feel true on summer days in Northern California, it’s harder to achieve than you think. Eggs need a temperature of 158 °F to fry, and sidewalks rarely surpass 145 °F. Regardless, it still speaks volumes about the sidewalks, concrete, and hot weather in our area. But what if you want to do a concrete project during this season?
Mathews Readymix is here to tackle your top questions and considerations for concrete, hot weather, and more below:
Q: What temperature should I pour concrete in?
A: Technically, the ideal temperature to pour concrete in is weather warmer than 50 °F/10 °F. The optimum range is when it’s between 50-80 °F outside!
Q: But what if it’s a bazillion degrees hotter than that? What happens?
A: When concrete cures, or sets, it needs heat to help the process along. However, the hotter it is, the quicker it dries. So when it’s super duper hot, like 100 °F, the concrete will cure too rapidly.
Q: If concrete dries quickly, is it really a bad thing?
A: Actually, yes. If concrete sets too fast, it leads to overall strength loss. And no one wants weak, crumbly, or cracked concrete, right?
Q: What’s the ideal time for concrete to cure?
A: In a perfect world, it will dry in 24-48 hours and be ready for foot traffic. After this, it’s partially cured in a week and ready then for vehicular traffic. But it’s truly, fully, cured after 28 days.
Q: Ok, so how do you prevent concrete from curing too quickly in hot weather?
A: The key is to keep the temperature and moisture consistent. You can do this by adding burlap or cotton maps, or straw on top, and keeping them constantly damp by soaking them with a sprinkler or hose. Others swear by creating a “pond” of water on top of the concrete for a “wet curing.” You can also use chemical curing agents to prevent rapid evaporation.
Q: What if my concrete mix has extra stuff like admixtures in it?
A: Depending on what concrete admixtures you use, it can alter the curing time. So do your research and plan accordingly!
Concrete + hot weather can = challenging pouring conditions. But if you prepare in advance, your concrete project can still turn out right. If you’re getting ready mixed concrete from Mathews Readymix this summer, we’re happy to share our knowledge and best practices with you for a successful pour. Contact us today for all your concrete needs!