Ideal Temperature to Pour Concrete

Hire professional concrete contractors who will ensure your pour will be done correctly when it gets colder outside. There are certain measures that are taken to help keep the concrete at the ideal pouring temperature. If these actions are not considered, the durability and longevity of your concrete will be impacted. Below are a few steps we take to maintain the correct temperatures for the curing process.

• The concrete plant uses a hot water mix to maintain the concrete temperature at or above the recommended placement temperature, reducing the risk of early age freezing.
• Calcium is added to the concrete mixture which pulls moisture out quicker and allows workability in cold weather. This helps develop early on strength.
• When temperatures approach freezing conditions, accelerators are used to reduce the curing time of the concrete.

Some experts say that using heated blankets on top of freshly laid concrete is best for the curing process. However, for residential customers, we rarely use this method because it can result in discolored, blotchy patches on the surface. If the outside temperature is below 40°F, the methods mentioned above warm the concrete to the ideal pouring temperature range, so blankets are not needed.