As cold weather settles in, you should be thinking about how to adjust your concrete mixtures. For every 10° F drop in temperature, concrete set times increase about 45 minutes. While there are several different steps you can take to prepare for cold weather concrete placement, perhaps none of them are as important as preparing the right mix. Here are some products that will help you get the concrete mix you need when it is chilly outside.
Speed Up the Set Time
When pouring concrete forms or molds, it is important not to remove the forms before the concrete has set up and gained enough strength. Unfortunately, concrete tends to take longer to do these two things in colder temperatures. One of the best ways to ensure that your concrete is ready to take out of the form sooner in cold weather is to use an accelerator. Fritz-Pak NCA accelerates the set speed, and it allows you to remove the forms much quicker, sometimes even the same day! Request a sample to try for yourself.
Adjust the Slump
Temperature changes can have a large impact on the slump of your mix. As the early morning temperatures get colder, the slump can get too loose and really get away from you. To create a low slump concrete in cold weather, Super Slump Buster can be helpful. It will tighten up the concrete even in cold weather, which can be helpful for those early morning curb mix jobs. Check out our video on slump change here.
Entrain More Air
When creating a concrete mix that will be poured in a colder climate, it is important to entrain enough air to keep the concrete from being damaged during multiple freeze/thaw cycles. Air entrainers, such as Air Plus and Super Air Plus, can easily be added at the job site to ensure that the concrete you pour has the desired air content. When using an air entrainer, it is important to consider the job specifications for finishing, which can impact the final air content of the concrete.
Speed Up the Set Time
When pouring concrete forms or molds, it is important not to remove the forms before the concrete has set up and gained enough strength. Unfortunately, concrete tends to take longer to do these two things in colder temperatures. One of the best ways to ensure that your concrete is ready to take out of the form sooner in cold weather is to use an accelerator. Fritz-Pak NCA accelerates the set speed, and it allows you to remove the forms much quicker, sometimes even the same day! Request a sample to try for yourself.
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