Weather decides the schedule here. From late autumn to spring, most delays are for rain. In summer the mornings are cool and the ground is dry, and work moves quickly.
How long does concrete take to cure?
Concrete reaches most of its strength in the first week and its design strength at about 28 days. Curing is a chemical reaction that needs moisture, so the slab should not dry out too fast. Our cool, damp weather slows the early days a little and helps the long cure.
How long before I can walk on new concrete?
You can usually walk on new concrete after 24 to 48 hours. In cold, wet weather give it the full two days. Keep pets, bikes and furniture off for a few days more, because the surface still marks easily.
How long before I can drive on new concrete?
Wait about 7 days before you drive on new concrete with a car. Wait closer to 28 days for an RV, a moving truck or a loaded trailer. In a cold spell, add a few days. Park on the street for the first week.
How long does it take to pour a driveway?
The pour itself takes one day. A typical driveway replacement is one to two days of tear-out, grading and forming, one day to pour and finish, then a week before cars. Permits for approach work and waiting for a dry window can add time before the start.
Can concrete be poured in the rain?
Not in steady or heavy rain. Light drizzle can be managed with covers and timing, and crews here do it often. Rain during finishing ruins the surface, so a pour with a wet forecast is moved. Expect weather delays between October and May. They protect your slab.
Is it ever too hot to pour concrete here?
Rarely, but it happens. During a summer heat wave it can be too hot to pour in the afternoon, so crews start at first light. Dry east wind is the bigger risk on most summer days, because it dries the surface before it can be finished. Wetting the base and curing promptly deal with both.
Can concrete be poured in cold or freezing weather?
Yes in cold weather, with care. No onto frozen ground or when a hard freeze is due that night. Fresh concrete that freezes in its first day or two is permanently weakened. Hard freezes here are short and usually come with a Gorge east wind, so the answer is often to wait a few days. Insulating blankets protect a slab through a cold night.
What is the best time of year to pour?
The best time of year to pour in this area is late spring through early autumn. The ground is firm, rain is scarce and temperatures are mild. That is also when schedules fill up. Winter pours are possible in dry gaps, but dates slip.
Can I use salt or deicer on new concrete?
No deicer or salt in the first winter, and as little as possible after that. Salt lets meltwater soak in and refreeze, which lifts the surface off young concrete. Use sand for grip in the few icy days we get. Never use products with ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, which attack concrete. Salt that drips from a car parked after a trip over the passes does the same damage, so rinse the driveway.
Want a date for your pour? Call (360) 995-1179.