Building a Home Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Concrete and freezing temps

5 years ago

I just had a walkway installed a couple of days ago. The day they poured the concrete the nighttime temps went down in the 20’s for two consecutive nights (daytime temps were in the 40’s). They did cover the walkway with plastic and heavy blankets after pouring. For the next 5 days or so the temps will be in the 40’s and 50’s and on the 6th day it will then dip to freezing nighttime temps. My question is..... how long should the walkway stay covered? Is 5 days and nights of non freezing temperatures long enough to not have to cover the walkway again with the blankets and plastic if the temperature goes below freezing again?

6 - Misc · More Info

Featured Answer

PRO

Window Accents by Vanessa Downs

5 years ago

Nidnay we just had our driveway and sidewalk poured yesterday. I woke up to 25 degree temps and worried about the concrete. I started googling. They poured ours and used an additive to heat up the concrete. From what I read the first couple of days are crucial and they don’t want the concrete to freeze in that time frame. I read it has to get down to 25 to freeze. I read that covering concrete is suggested if your temps are dipping below 30. Sounds like you’re doing the right things.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

Nidnay
Original Author
5 years ago
Patricia....I have learned (through experience) that you cannot truly trust most of the trades to do things correctly. I’ve had to educate myself and double check on so many things that would have otherwise been done incorrectly or cause damage etc. In fact, I had to actually call the concrete guy and tell him the temps were going below freezing and suggest that maybe they should be covered. It was only after that call did he come back to the house to cover things.

If there are any concrete experts out there I would really appreciate some input on this.
User
5 years ago
It would be speculation without knowing the mix, and specifications of the path.
Related Discussions
Will Freezing Temps Kill New Lawn
Q
Comments (9)
We know Fescue turf can handle cold etc. The question is will forst kill feecue seedling that just emerged? Per many lawn care websites as the newly emerged seedling is too fragile to handle forst and will get killed . But its not clear how long of a frost it takes to kill it. I am guessing if it goes below 32 for several hours, it will kill newly emerged seedlingns unless action is taken, @ HU-514415109 - if its only one night and it wont go to frost again in a few days, I would cover it with a tarp the evening prior. Another technique is to water the lawn for a couple of minutes each hour during the over night hours when the frost is expected, if you have a timer and sprinkler system. A few years ago, I covered my newly emerged seedling with tarp couple years ago for 3-4 nights in a row due to a sudden cold spell in October. It warmed up again after 3-4 days and none of them died. They grew a bit but not to the point i had to mow it. Then after mid Nov, was starting to dip below low 30s quite freqently and I really did not do anything as covering with tarp was a lot of work. I never did but did not take off great either. Each time we had a bout of warm weather, it would green a bit more. By late winter/early spring it was completely green, full and ready to be mowed. I live in Charlotte zone 8, so winters are relatively mild but was colder than normal that year and the grass still made it. Not sure if covering it up with a tarp helped or not. but I wanted to play it safe.
...See More
rain barrels - in freezing temps
Q
Comments (17)
It's a good time to brush & clean the bottom dirt & slime out of them. I have 7 barrels & I empty them! Last winter, I had a hard time getting the hoses off the fittings - (the hoses harden up on the fitting barbs and when I mess with the fittings trying to get the hoses off, the fittings start to leak) This year, I emptied them, cut the hoses between each barrel, then installed a male and female hose mender on the hose between each barrel, so that I can just unscrew the hose coupling and move the barrel for cleaning and/or storage. Don't leave the water in them! It can crack the barrels and it is not worth it! It is also nice to start out the season with nice clean barrels! Paul
...See More
NWS says FREEZE WARNING tonight, but Wx predicts temps above 32 degree
Q
Comments (5)
I find the hostas in pots handle the cold nights badly. I think it is because the roots (and whole plant) get cold. If the pot is not in contact with the ground, it gets even colder. Smaller pots do worse than big ones. So, the ones on wire shelves are not in contact with any massive like the ground or concrete balcony are likely more vulnerable to cold (and heat) damage. Larger objects have more thermal inertia, in that it takes longer (more exposure) to get hot or cold. Picture a gallon of water in the freezer vs a single pocket in an ice cube tray.
...See More
Decorative rock bubbler and freezing temps
Q
Comments (0)
I had a rock bubbler put in a few weeks ago, and as winter approaches, I'm curious if it's an option to run year round. Aside from putting dangerous antifreeze in it, I was wondering if using a pond heater would do the trick. I believe that the basin it sits on holds about 90 gallons of water. Would a pond heater keep it going year round? I do realize the obvious choice would be to drain it for winter, but I'm curious if I have to. I live in the Kansas City area (for weather reference)
...See More
Nidnay
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks Vanessa....I read similar but just wanted to make sure that if I remove the covering in a few days it’s ok since the temps will be plunging again. I think i remember reading somewhere that it can take a month for the concrete to cure (but maybe I made that up). I have no clue if an additive was added to the mix.
PRO
Window Accents by Vanessa Downs
5 years ago
Actually my husband read it cures over 99 years. LOL But I'm thinking the freezing issue is in the first few days. After that the water in the concrete isn't an issue. We watched them add the bags of additive onsite right before they poured. They said something about not doing it at the concrete plant because it gets too hot.
Nidnay
Original Author
5 years ago
Haha....99 years.
gthigpen
5 years ago
My neighbor builds high end swimming pools and water parks and obviously works with a lot of concrete. He told me that the first three days are the most important and after that, it's pretty set. I think you're good.
Nidnay thanked gthigpen
chiflipper
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I can attest to the fact that concrete continues to harden over many, many years. Ask anyone who has struggled to manually break up 100-year-old sidewalks or building foundations.
millworkman
5 years ago
gthigpen is correct, after 3-5 days the temps will not effect the concrete. It will be set enough for it not to be effected.
Nidnay thanked millworkman
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
Take the insulation blanket off when concrete turns white.
Nidnay thanked GN Builders L.L.C
robin0919
5 years ago
https://www.bing.com/search?q=concrete+and+freezing+temperatures&qs=AS&pq=concrete+and+fr&sc=8-15&cvid=B327EC9F2AFF4948815368E3E80DB664&FORM=QBLH&sp=1
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
They usually add calcium chloride to concrete when pouring in cold weather that protects concrete from freezing.
PRO
Window Accents by Vanessa Downs
5 years ago
That’s the additive they used in our pour this week.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
Yes, we use that all the time when freezing temperatures expected or during... The main problem is pouring concrete on frozen ground, because after the ground thaws that is when settlements occur this why not many like to pour concrete when you get into freezing temperatures.

I remember when doing developments, a few times we had to pour about 150 feet of sidewalk in freezing weather and out of 150 feet 8' had to be replaced...which was not bad and somewhat expected.
Nidnay
Original Author
5 years ago
Well, thankfully the ground was not frozen when they poured. It’s never gotten cold enough this season for that to happen. And the temp only dropped into the 20’s for several hours in the early morning hours for a couple of days after the pour. It’s been above freezing for a few days now and they are here today removing the blankets and forms. It’s supposed to stay above freezing for the next 4 days. When the weather is more stable, they will finish the job and cover it with flagstone.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
With the blankets it should be fine, like I said before, when concrete turns white you can take the blankets off and it's all done.

Good luck

Concrete and freezing temps

Window Accents by Vanessa Downs

Comments (16)

Nidnay
Original Author

User

Related Discussions

Nidnay
Original Author

Window Accents by Vanessa Downs

Nidnay
Original Author

gthigpen

chiflipper

millworkman

GN Builders L.L.C

robin0919

GN Builders L.L.C

Window Accents by Vanessa Downs

GN Builders L.L.C

Nidnay
Original Author

GN Builders L.L.C

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Concrete and freezing temps

Comments (16)

NidnayOriginal Author

Related Discussions

NidnayOriginal Author

NidnayOriginal Author

NidnayOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Nidnay
Original Author

Nidnay
Original Author

Nidnay
Original Author

Nidnay
Original Author