Leaving slab exposed for winter

[pattheriault]

Recently poured a monolithic slab and doubt i will have time to put up the building before winter. I live in canada so freezing temps and lots of snow

How would you go about protecting the slab?

Monolithic slab with anchor bolt around the perimeter and center drain.

I thought about blocking the center drain so water doesnt freeze in it but if i do that water is probably going to freeze on the slab. Before it gets covered in snow. Should i just put a few peice of foam in the catch basin so it has place to expand if it does freeze?

What about saw cut? Should i seal those with caulking?

 

[pattheriault]

 

[billconner]

What are your plans for finish/flooring if any?

What have you do one for frost protection? Is this just a thickened edge not below frost line, or stem wall and footing below frost? Or shall frost protected foundation?

Surface may discolor but the real concern Is have is frost heave. Is it a wet area or sandy and dry?

 

[Rusted Nut]

There are millions of concrete slabs that sit out winter after winter, like roads and bridge decks. Caulk the saw cuts, plug the drain. As billconner said, frost heaving is your biggest concern.

 

[Tom Sestito]

I have this exact issue right now as well. My slab is located in NW Ontario.

My foundation has underslab insulation. For the winter, I'm putting insulation on the ground (plan calls for it anyway) out 6' around. I found some used EPS insulation for $5/sheet that I"m going to use. This should deal with the frost problem.

The slab itself I'm just covering with a tarp.

The drains I've plugged and filled the traps with plumbing antifreeze.

Hope this helps.

 

[billconner]

$5 for 2" EPS? Wow. More like $50 here.

Are you burying it the (usually) required 10"?

Good plan. Should be fine. And anti freeze in traps is real good thinking.

 

[NORDFORD]

Anti freeze in the trap. Buy an actual plug for the drain. Caulk the seams. Scoop the snow. NO ICE MELT OF ANY KIND EVEN IF IT SAYS ITS SAFE FOR NEW CONCRETE.

I’ll say it again.
NO ICE MELT OF ANY KIND EVEN IF IT SAYS ITS SAFE FOR NEW CONCRETE.

 

[Tom Sestito]

$5 for 2" EPS? Wow. More like $50 here.

Are you burying it the (usually) required 10"?

Good plan. Should be fine. And anti freeze in traps is real good thinking.

Yep it'll be about 10" deep when fully installed. For this winter I might just lay it on the ground and remove it in the spring so I can build without damaging it.

It was used and covered in roof tar which is why it's so cheap. But I don't care I'm just going to bury it so it was a great deal. Ended up buying around 2,000 sqft of it, and gave some to my brother.

 

[pattheriault]

What are your plans for finish/flooring if any?

What have you do one for frost protection? Is this just a thickened edge not below frost line, or stem wall and footing below frost? Or shall frost protected foundation?

Surface may discolor but the real concern Is have is frost heave. Is it a wet area or sandy and dry?

Not concerned about frost heave. It is a thickened edge monoslab. Constructed on about 8ft of well draining gravel

 

[pattheriault]

What are your plans for finish/flooring if any?

What have you do one for frost protection? Is this just a thickened edge not below frost line, or stem wall and footing below frost? Or shall frost protected foundation?

Surface may discolor but the real concern Is have is frost heave. Is it a wet area or sandy and dry?

What are your plans for finish/flooring if any?

What have you do one for frost protection? Is this just a thickened edge not below frost line, or stem wall and footing below frost? Or shall frost protected foundation?

Surface may discolor but the real concern Is have is frost heave. Is it a wet area or sandy and dry?

No flooring will be on concrete. Maybe epoxy down the road

 

[pattheriault]

Main concerned is the drain. If i should plug it or not. The way i see it with frost heave this is no different than having a non heated garage on top of it. Probably even better with snow insulating it.

 

[nadogail]

Sidewalks are concrete slabs and the exposure to the weather doesn’t seem to bother them.

 

[billconner]

Sidewalks are concrete slabs and the exposure to the weather doesn’t seem to bother them.

Except they seem to move up and down, or at least a corner or two.

 

[bigman68]

Did they use air-entrained concrete? If not you might have issues with spalling over the winter

Air-Entrained Concrete Improves Freeze-Thaw Durability - Concrete Network

Air-entrained concrete is essential for enhancing freeze-thaw resistance. This guide explains how to use air entrainers in your decorative concrete work.

www.concretenetwork.com

 

[msharley]

Except they seem to move up and down, or at least a corner or two.

Hmmm???

 

[InsanePyro]

Hmmm???

I mean if you completely ignore the giant roots sure