Many buyers start building their homes in the spring. Often, they do this to prevent the cold from damaging the freshly poured foundation of their home. Despite this widespread practice, it is quite normal to wonder if it is possible to pour a concrete foundation in winter to repair your foundations.
Discover some food for thought on the subject!
A concrete foundation that doesn’t like frost, snow and ice
There are safe and effective ways to pour a concrete foundation during the winter season. The first step is to make sure that the ground under the foundation is not frozen and that the ground is free of snow and ice.
The foundations are used, among other things, to transfer the weight of the building to the ground. On the other hand, during periods of frost, the volume of the soil increases due to the ice, modifying its carrying capacity. When the ground is frozen, the structure is falsely supported and tends to subside as the ice melts into the ground. Frost also increases soil moisture, which affects the development of concrete strength. To counteract these effects, your concrete expert may recommend that you protect your floor by covering it with hay or plastic sheeting.
Protecting the Freshly Poured Concrete Slab in Cold Weather
Concrete is very resistant to cold. Its freezing point is around -2.78°C (27°F). However, this high resistance does not prevent it from freezing. Thus, concrete must be protected until it reaches 500 pounds per square inch (psi). Since some freeze-thaw cycles occur during the winter, concrete protection must continue until it reaches 1,500 psi. The temperature of the concrete must therefore be maintained above its freezing point until its compressive strength is 500 psi. Formwork systems are a good way to protect concrete from cracks. They are also very useful for preventing excessive moisture loss.
Mix design: the key to pouring the slab in winter
To properly pour a concrete foundation in winter, special attention must be paid to the design of the mix. Concrete is made up of a mixture of water and cement. The higher the water content of the concrete, the more vulnerable the concrete is to freezing. Adding an excessive amount of water to the concrete in winter will promote early freezing of the foundation.
Rely on the help of admixtures for a concrete foundation
In addition to the importance of using concrete that contains the right water-to-cement ratio, the use of admixtures is highly advantageous when it comes to pouring a concrete slab in winter. Admixtures are additives that are introduced into concrete to accelerate the hydration process in order to generate greater internal heat for an increased gain in strength. Chloride-free accelerators are highly effective admixtures for pouring a concrete foundation in winter.
Groupe Fissure Expert Foundation: for a solid foundation, even in winter
Winter shouldn’t stop you from pouring your concrete foundation. With the right precautions, it is possible for you to proceed forward, even in cold weather. This way, you will have the pleasure of moving into your home in the spring, if that is your wish.
Groupe Fissure Expert Fondation has solid know-how. If you have any questions about concrete slabs , please contact one of our experienced technicians.
Need a Crack Repair Expert?
If you notice cracks on your foundation, it is important to act quickly. Fissure Expert offers professional foundation crack injection services throughout Quebec. Call a certified foundation crack contractor for a free estimate. We serve Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Longueuil and many other cities.