Pouring Concrete in Freezing Weather

[kmacht]

Need some advice. I built an oversize 2 car garage a few years back. It replaced a small 20x20 garage. I was able to use the existing foundation and just add on to it so one of the garage bays is from the old slab and one is new. My problem is that I never poured a cement ramp into the garage for the new slab (the old slab has one) and I'm facing a situation where I am going to need to make one quickly. I didn't bother at the time because I was using he second side to store a project truck and never needed to get it in or out of the garage. We are now selling our house (and buying one with a bigger and better garage/shop) and I am worried that buyers of our house are not going to like the idea of having a garage bay that you can't drive into. It is about an 8" drop from the garage door to the stone driveway. I would like to pour the ramp for the second bay (about 10' long by 2.5' wide) but we live in the northeast and won't see nights get above freezing for a few months. Is there any way to pour concrete in freezing temperatures without having to hire it out to a company with heated blankets? I'm looking to do this as cheaply as possible. I was thinking maybe using the quickrete fast setting cement but am not sure that mixing 2 or 3 bags at a time is going to work since I have a large area (about 30 bags). I'm afraid that the first bags will start setting up before I finish the pour. Suggestions?

Keith

 

[gungatim]

not much help I'm afraid, all I know is the contractors that do concrete will add something called "heat" to the mix to keep it from freezing. I assume it is a chemical added as a reaction that generates heat...I'm sure a pro will come along with better advice.

 

[Thumper68]

Here's my advice take it for what it is.

Get a bid for the ramp to be poured in the spring/summer and if the buyer brings it up offer to set aside half the bid amount.

Honestly most home buyers will hardly even look at the garage.

 

[creativecars]

You could do all the gravel work and make a nice taper and all it would need to pour would be a little more work before pouring. Gravel is better than dirt imo.

 

[dcuthill]

Need some advice. I built an oversize 2 car garage a few years back. It replaced a small 20x20 garage. I was able to use the existing foundation and just add on to it so one of the garage bays is from the old slab and one is new. My problem is that I never poured a cement ramp into the garage for the new slab (the old slab has one) and I'm facing a situation where I am going to need to make one quickly. I didn't bother at the time because I was using he second side to store a project truck and never needed to get it in or out of the garage. We are now selling our house (and buying one with a bigger and better garage/shop) and I am worried that buyers of our house are not going to like the idea of having a garage bay that you can't drive into. It is about an 8" drop from the garage door to the stone driveway. I would like to pour the ramp for the second bay (about 10' long by 2.5' wide) but we live in the northeast and won't see nights get above freezing for a few months. Is there any way to pour concrete in freezing temperatures without having to hire it out to a company with heated blankets? I'm looking to do this as cheaply as possible. I was thinking maybe using the quickrete fast setting cement but am not sure that mixing 2 or 3 bags at a time is going to work since I have a large area (about 30 bags). I'm afraid that the first bags will start setting up before I finish the pour. Suggestions?

Keith

You could build an enclosure over top of it and heat it and keep the slab above freezing for the first 7 days after you pour. The concrete will not set-up as quick as it normally would either. Get a mix with less slump.

Keep an eye on the weather and try to do it when you have lots of days with sun.

Hopefully that helps.

 

[piker28]

You could do all the gravel work and make a nice taper and all it would need to pour would be a little more work before pouring. Gravel is better than dirt imo.

I would recommend this route. Normally I would not worry about it but 8" is a big drop and I know alot of people who would notice that.

 

[bczygan]

Placing concrete now? Where are you?

Good way to get a slab with a ruined finish.

Been there and done that.

Watched others do the same.

Bill

 

[MoonRise]

As mentioned, put gravel there.

If really-really 'needed', do concrete in the spring when the weather (and the ground!) aren't below freezing.

http://www.concretenetwork.com/cold-weather-concrete/precautions.html

http://www.concretenetwork.com/cold-weather-concrete/curing.html

http://www.cement.org/for-concrete-...concrete-construction/cold-weather-concreting

http://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/27p.pdf

IMHO.

 

[kmacht]

I guess gravel it is then. The section of driveway leading up to it is already gravel so it won't look horribly out of place. It would just have looked better with concrete but if that isn't possible to do as a winter DIY project then I guess it is what it is.

Thanks,

Keith

 

[CombatNinja]

This is why you should do things the right way from the beginning. Lesson learned. If the buyer balks, give them an allowance to have it poured in the spring.

 

[C2 Turbo]

I am in the same boat myself too. House is almost done but it needs the concrete driveway. As restless as I am, builder is telling me to just wait until the weather is right that is, ground temp not below freezing at the time of pouring to until the third day after the pour.

Do it once and do it right.