Too late to do a concrete slab in the North?

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 2, 2004

Now that October is here I have the opportunity to do a concrete slab in part of my pole barn (40' x 48' with two outside walls and four doors). /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Getting a floor in there would be wonderful but I'm concerned it might be too late in the season to pour and get a good cure for a lasting slab here in Northern Indiana (think Michigan's lower peninsula). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Is there any basis for this concern? Also, I'm thinking of going with 6" flooring over stone with some type of reinforcing and a minimum 4,000 PSI test mix with drains installed and aprons at the doors. Am I missing anything here?

Egon · Oct 2, 2004

Concrete produces some heat as it is curing. A tarp can be placed over the concrete and a heater blowing hot air underneath can also be used. Sometimes you can order the trucks with hot water. High early cement will also cure quicker and warmer but have to be finished faster.

Judgement call.

Egon

slowzuki · Oct 2, 2004

People pour in Canada all winter with the right conditions as Egon mentioned. Our neighbour poured in December last year, Daytime highs of -2 C. (Below freezing) he had some changes to the normal mix and used tarps.

jmc · Oct 2, 2004

Here's a thread about a December slab in Bloomington, IN. It came out great.

John

Pouring cement in December

higgy · Oct 2, 2004

There is a great article in the Journal of Light Construction on pouring concrete in cold weather. You may be able to get it from their web site. If not pm me.

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 2, 2004

<font color="blue"> "High early cement" </font>

Egon,

I'm not at all familiar with that term. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

beenthere · Oct 2, 2004

You should be fine as long as the ground beneath the slab is not frozen when poured, and the earth is packed, as well as the gravel is tamped. Fill dirt beneath the slab is what would concern me the most. It will settle over winter after being frozen.
But waiting will not improve the situation any. Frost around here this morning. Just made it up to 40 F. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 2, 2004

It was cold and rainy when I got up this morning until about 8:30 AM yet beautiful the rest of the day. We're supposed to have our first frost Tuesday. I'm meeting with the concrete guy Monday AM.

If we can get together on our deal (it's a swap for a truck I have) then I'm going to want to do it ASAP. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Thanks for all of your input.

Durbob · Oct 2, 2004

Actually as long as the ground isn't frozen when you pour it or frozen withen 3 or 4 days after you pour it then you are fine. I would cover like has been mentioned. The worst thing to do with concrete is pour on a 90 degree day because the faster it sets the more brittle it is. The longer concrete takes to cure like in cooler weather the better it is. I would put a GOOD sealer on it as soon as it was hard enough to walk on.

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 2, 2004

<font color="blue"> "As long as the ground isn't frozen when you pour it or frozen within 3 or 4 days after you pour it then you are fine." </font>

Are you talking about it being frozen solid or a frost? I should be quite a ways away from the actual freezing but we're getting our first frost of the season in a few hours.