quickcrete + cold weather?

millipede · #1 12/22/06, 11:23 AM

I have some cementing I REALLY want to get done soon. It's nothing terribly important... minor cracks aren't going to kill me. But the bags say not to let it go below freezing for 24 hours or something like that. I missed out on some of the odd weather we were having, just didn't get this all done in time... so now the cold has moved back in and I think every night for the next week is going to be in the 20's.
Can I still use it and hope for the best? Is there something I can do to it that would help it? Am I just out of luck?

dagwood · #2 12/22/06, 11:30 AM

I don't know the extent of what you are trying to do. I will say that working with concrete is no slight task and I would heed the Instructions regarding its use very carefully. Nothing worse than having to do the same job twice IMHO>

**GREENCOUNTYPETE** · #3 12/22/06, 11:43 AM

there is an aditaive to make it cure in the cold but you should realy either wait or keep it above freezing by insulating it with burlap , straw , styrofoam what ever you can get
but if ground is already frozen it will not likely be enough just to insulate and should wait

this is why my uncle is in concrete work like mad man all summer sring and fall
snowmobile like mad man in winter

millipede · #4 12/22/06, 11:54 AM

Basically, in a way, I'm making something of a foundation for a pen for my birds. It's a 13' x 7 1/2' dog kennel... 4x4 posts cemented in... Will have a nice roof. I have a few places already cemented/bloced or whatever and it's holding up the pen, I just need to fill in other areas around the bottom. Cements, blocks, and/or rocks from the yard. It will be pretty rough looking, but I think I'll like it and it will server its purpose which is to give the pen extra support and keep predators from digging under. Basically if parts cracked a little or anything like that, I don't think it would be a major problem... but I don't want to risk it just falling apart either...

The next week or so is forecast to be in the 40's with mid 20's at night each night. It would be nice to find a way to get it done soon... I'm not sure when the next heat wave will come through, but it could be quite a while.
I guess if I have to I can wait... If I end up needing to use the pen for something before I get to finish that, I can always just add some more wire to the bottom of it.

Thanks for the replies.

Herb · #5 12/22/06, 01:03 PM

A buddy poured some piers for his deck in the middle of winter. There was about 2' of concrete pier above the ground. He mixed anti-freeze in with the water while he was mixing up the concrete. The night time temps went into the 20's with the highs in the 30's. He had no problems, but I honestly can't say if it was because of the anti-freeze or not.

Blu3duk · #6 12/22/06, 01:20 PM

if it is inside then you can still patch, most likely the floor wont be frozen under cover, if it is outside on a walkway of foundation, then you best wait til it warms up, the water will freeze out of the mix before it can dry out of it and the concrete will crumble. An Alternative solution is to put a space heater under a tent in the area of the patchwork.

Iv have poured concrete at freezing temps and found that as long as you dont get in a hurry to use it green, it doesnt crumble, but if i dont have to do it, i wouldnt..... rather be safe than cost me twice.

William

Old Vet · #7 12/22/06, 09:00 PM

I poured concerte in less than freesing tempitures. If the tempiture is abouve 40 degrees in the day you can pour it in the morning and if you do that the concreet will cure on the outside and will not freese in the midle. you will be alreght. If the tempuriture is below 32 for severial days or for many hours it may be a probliem. You can do this by insuatining it from the coled.

tallpaul · #8 12/23/06, 07:11 AM

I have poured more than one job by pouring and finishing when the tempes were LOW- the concrete will heat a bit as it sets... when firm enough I take plastic and cover- then I put a layer straw over the pour. It acts as a blanket and has worked for some personal pours as well as a few builders I work for for bigger jobs too....

jefferson · #9 12/24/06, 09:29 AM

Don't. Ice crystals do not make for good concrete. If temps are going to be higher next week, I suggest a wait.

crafty2002 · #10 12/24/06, 09:40 AM

Call the ready mix plant and ask them what they put in concrete to keep it fro freezing. It isn't a regulat anti-freeze like you would use in your car but they have something they mix into it. Heck they pour concrete for buildings and bridges yera round. It just cost more for the concrete.
If you are hand mixing with QuickeCrete, I all ways buy a bag or two of portland cement and add about 2 shovels to each bag of quickcrete I mix.
Quickcrete is real week and the portland will not only strengthen but it will make it set faster as well as make the chimical reaction get it warmer.

tiogacounty · #11 12/24/06, 07:37 PM

It sounds like you are trying to come up with a freeze resistant mortar. Stop at a masonary supply and ask for a low temperature admixture. It replaces some of the water in the mix. Believe me, the weather conditions you describe are very common during winters here in the northeast and blockwork goes on any time it's 25* and rising on a commercial job. Cover the work at the end of the day with plastic and straw and you will be fine. If you use the right additive and cover it properly, none of the dire warnings given here apply.