Last week I had my garage poured, my front & back porch and the footings for my deck. I am in S.Cen Wisconsin and have similar temps right now. There are things you can do to concrete to pour it in colder weather. Call your builder and voice your concerns, have him explain what steps he is taking to insure the proper cold weather set. I would get it poured this week, rather than wait longer for it to get even colder.

Concrete can certainly be poured in cold weather! If it couldn't, most concrete construction would come to a screeching halt in winter and that just does not happen. In fact, it is more desirable to pour in colder as opposed to hotter weather as the curing process slows in cooler weather and the concrete develops better strength.

The concrete industry has done extensive studies on cold weather curing and there are various methods and materials that should be utilized to that end. Most concrete contractors in cold winter climates are very familiar with these additives and processes. Just make sure your guys do.

btw, cement is a just an ingredient in concrete and is a very fine powder......your slab will be a concrete slab, not a cement one :-))

Cold weather concreting.

The concrete floors and walls for the Holiday Inn Express in Petoskey were poured in the dead of winter and it was well below freezing. The concrete contained additives that enable it to cure properly when the temperatures plunged below freezing. On one of the floors there was some surface flaking that occurred, but it was repaired and the building is still standing at the time of this posting.

Request documentation of the make-up of the concrete used in your project. You may also want to take images of the concrete while it is being installed.

Mark, what sort of documentation should we ask for?

You want the concrete person to show you the “recipe” this will have ratios, and any additives. Ask if the mix will have any cold weather additives. Cement is glue, when mixed with small rocks and sand, it is concrete.

Make sure you have them use "NON" calcuim chloride additive as the accelerator. Most places will add the cheaper incorrect regular chloride which will breakdown your rebar over time. And you can't have it worse than be. It was in the 20 degree range and snowing when we poured. I was a nervous wreck. The inspector that came just before we poured said if it were 2 degrees colder by law we couldn't pour.

Good decision.