They have already laid down the vapor barrier for them to pour the concrete slab but it it supposed to rain before they have scheduled the pour. Is it necessary to dry all of that out first or can they pour it over the standing water and it just absorb into the concrete as it dries? We have had a few problems with this contractor and I don't want him to scew this up, thanks!
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Pouring Concrete after rain
- Thread starter Megan
- Start date
boiler7904
Well-known member
You don't want extra water in the concrete - whether it's already standing in the hole or if they use the tank and hose on the truck. Extra water beyond the design mix will degrade the quality of the concrete. A little extra water isn't always bad and it will help make the concrete easier to work. The problem is that most guys don't know when to stop adding water.
You'll get a much better product if you let the site dry out before you try to pour the concrete.
Why take the chance of potential problems to get the concrete in a couple of days sooner? Don't give the contractor the chance to screw something else up if you're already having problems with him.
You can help the site dry by removing the excess water - rent a small trash pump, dig a drainage ditch, or even use a wet/dry vac if the area is small enough. After you get the standing water out of the hole, you want a lot of wind and sunshine for a couple of days to finish drying the site.
You'll get a much better product if you let the site dry out before you try to pour the concrete.
Why take the chance of potential problems to get the concrete in a couple of days sooner? Don't give the contractor the chance to screw something else up if you're already having problems with him.
You can help the site dry by removing the excess water - rent a small trash pump, dig a drainage ditch, or even use a wet/dry vac if the area is small enough. After you get the standing water out of the hole, you want a lot of wind and sunshine for a couple of days to finish drying the site.
Last edited:
Wardster
Well-known member
x2
Usually a little water will not hurt, so it really depends on how much you are talking about.
If your contractor starts placing the concrete in a corner and works toward the opposite corner, then the concrete will actually push the rainwater as it is placed. It needs someplace to go as it accumulates, so and the use of a small pump usually does the trick. We poured a 3000+ cy foundation that had a little water in it and the procedure I described above worked great.
-Wardster
Usually a little water will not hurt, so it really depends on how much you are talking about.
If your contractor starts placing the concrete in a corner and works toward the opposite corner, then the concrete will actually push the rainwater as it is placed. It needs someplace to go as it accumulates, so and the use of a small pump usually does the trick. We poured a 3000+ cy foundation that had a little water in it and the procedure I described above worked great.
-Wardster
z28toz06
Well-known member
take a backpack leaf blower and blow the water off the vapor barrier.
47bob
Member
The water will float right out as you pour. Not to worry. Plus or minus one inch of slump is within spec. on most mix designs (FYI)
Bigger Hammer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2007
- Messages
- 173
Wet is fine. "Standing water" is not.
x2.
As long as the sub-grade is not pumping and there is not any standing water, you should be fine. In fact, on most commercial jobs, the spec books read that the sub-grade is to be sprayed down with water prior to the pour to slow the initial set time in an effort to control shrinkage cracking.
PAToyota
Well-known member
The water will float right out as you pour. Not to worry. Plus or minus one inch of slump is within spec. on most mix designs (FYI)
Glad you aren't overseeing any of my projects!
TXST8tj
Well-known member
Glad you aren't overseeing any of my projects!
yeah..seriously. that sort of thing does not float around here. if no one is at the jobsite, undfortunately it does happen, but it certainly shouldn't. if someone is on the jobsite inspecting and testing the concrete, +1" slump will get a load returned.