

However, it is much harder to use set controlling admixture in concrete repair materials, especially when mixing smaller quantities. Set Controlling Admixture, also known as Retarder, can be purchased in powder form for the addition to bagged concrete and other cementitious materials. Slowing the Set - The most common method of slowing the set of ready-mixed concrete is by using set controlling admixtures. Using the before-mentioned infrared thermometer, double-check the temperatures of the powdered building materials before mixing. Bear in mind that the actual temperature of the concrete or concrete repair material, once mixed, is affected by the temperature of the dry concrete materials, whether they are bagged or in plastic pails. Always cover the materials if they are to be left out in the open for any period. Stack the materials in a shaded area and on plastic or pallets avoiding ground contact, if possible. Material Storage Considerations - Wherever the materials are stored leading up to their use, avoid placing them in direct sunlight. This excess heat on the surface of the concrete can adversely interfere with the bond of the concrete repair during application by searing on contact with the bottom of the fresh material.Īdd an infrared thermometer heat gun to your tool bag and check the concrete surface temperature before starting concrete repair in hot weather to make a better-educated decision on whether to begin or delay the placement.

Concrete exposed to hot weather stores heat during the day. This tip may seem obvious for freshly mixed concrete placement but is even more of a safeguard when applying concrete repair materials to exterior concrete. Time of Placement - Whether you are placing exterior concrete or performing a concrete repair during the hot weather season, you should move your start times to either early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or during the night. Hot Weather Concreting is a Team Sport - Hot weather necessitates having enough helpers on hand to accommodate for the shortened times to mix, place, and finish concrete or to make the repair. Tips for Successful Hot Weather Placements Here are four tips from safety expert John Meola to protect both your workers and your business.ġ0 Tips to Cool Summer’s Hot-Tempered Construction Workers: Tips on how construction leaders can approach hot-tempered employees and help them cool down, especially as the outside temperatures heat up
#SMALL WEATHER ICONSET HOW TO#
Know what they are, how to treat them and how to prevent them.Ĥ Steps Contractors Can Take When They Can’t Stand the Heat: Heat hazards can get your construction company in hot water if you fail to address them. Managing Heat Stress and Working In Hot Environments: Heat and hot environments can pose multiple safety and health issues. Safety Expert John Meola Shares Heat Stress Management Tips: When summer temperatures rise, many construction workers are at risk of heat stress.ġ0 Hot-Weather Safety Tips for Construction: How to keep your crew safe when the temperature creeps above 90 degrees Risk of lower ultimate strength due to higher water content and high curing temperatures.A faster set can lead to poor consolidation of the materials, bugholes, and voids.Increased potential for plastic shrinkage cracking and crazing.Increased urgency for applying a curing method to the freshly placed materials.Detrimental effects resulting from re-tempering with water.Reduced setting times which include pot life, placement, and finishing times.Let us review some of the adverse conditions present in hot weather concreting on smaller projects: The ACI also sets the maximum temperature for plastic concrete as 95 º F (35 º Celsius).

Our focus is to help concrete contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike to employ the right hot-weather concreting precautions and practices for any given year.Īccording to the American Concrete Institute (ACI), any time the ambient temperature exceeds 77 º F (25 º Celsius), a hot weather plan for concreting should be in place. This article will focus on hot weather concreting tips and best practices for those smaller projects utilizing bagged concrete or concrete repair materials. There have been scores of articles written about the challenges involving ready-mixed concrete placement when faced with hot weather.
