What are the Tips to Cure Concrete in Winter?
The process of concrete curing becomes much and much more challenging during the winters. This is due to a number of reasons. A lot of strength of concrete is lost if it freezes at an early stage. However, there are many ways in which concrete can be successfully placed and poured during extreme seasons.
A lot of people avoid pouring concrete in winters altogether. This should not be the preferred approach. It is simply required to eliminate the idea of placing concrete outside during winters. Fortunately, there are techniques in which you can cure them. Even though you can consult professionals like concreter tweed heads, here are some of the tips listed:
Place them for longer periods
This is the first and foremost tip that you can utilize. Where the forms are utilized, you can leave them for as long as possible. This will help in heat retention and prevent the concrete from getting the concrete dry. In concrete, the edges and corners are most susceptible. The forms will be helpful during the entire heat process.
Pump live steam
If you want to ensure that the concrete does not dry out to quickly, then you can even pump live steam. This is one of the most effective ways. You can pump live steam in the enclosure. This will help from preventing the concrete when there are pretty much low humidity levels. These humidity levels are common during the winter, therefore, you can use this method as a tip to cure concrete.
Verification of the concrete temperature
This is also important when the concrete is being cured. A lot of people undermine this process which makes the entire thing very ineffective. When the concrete is going under the curing process, the temperature must be verified. This can be done using an infrared temperature gun. You need to ensure that the concrete is being maintained at a temperature of at least 40 degrees when the curing process is going on.
Take care of the time
This is also another part of the process that a lot of people do not take care of. It is also about the time to cure the concrete. You need to ensure that the period recommended for curing concrete should be complied with. This will vary according to the type of concrete used. Some concrete types will be cured within 7 days while others would take 14 days. You need to go through the instructions to know about the type.
Sealing the concrete
The final tip that you must take into account is in relation to the sealing of the concrete. You can apply the sealant from preventing the water outside to seep into the concrete. The sealants will help in extension of concrete’s life and minimize the chances of failure of the process. You can use breathable sealants in regions that are extreme cold. This is so that the moisture can be evaporated.
