Recent concrete poor and snow

[PT Doc]

Recent concrete pour and snow

New home foundation poured about a month ago. Garages poured about 10 days ago and walkout basement flour poured last week. It is still snowing and so far we have about 7" of wet snow. The basement is a walkout and no framing has begun.

Do I leave the snow or shovel it off the concrete? The 1750 sq ft basement is a structural floor so there is a crawl space with vapour barrier under it. My concern is with lots of water getting under the basement floor and that becoming a swamp. No need to talk with builder since the likely answer will be that is ok. That is why I wanted to hear from you guys.

Thanks for the help.

 

[s_ontario]

I would leave he snow its like a blanket now

 

[Professur]

Snow is more insulative than the air above it.

 

[s14kev]

Pouring a foundation and slab during the coldest months in Colorado? Builders must be brave! I need to pump concrete into a block wall and it is fluctuating around 30-40 degrees. We have a period of cold weather this week (between 25-35 degrees) and have put off the concrete for at least a week until it gets above 40.

 

[PT Doc]

Pouring a foundation and slab during the coldest months in Colorado? Builders must be brave! I need to pump concrete into a block wall and it is fluctuating around 30-40 degrees. We have a period of cold weather this week (between 25-35 degrees) and have put off the concrete for at least a week until it gets above 40.

coldest months of the year are relative. we had 2 days of 70 degrees last week. I'm going to guess that you do not live in my region.

my concrete was not poured in freezing temps. but it has snowed onto the concrete that was poured 2 weeks ago and last week. that's why I was asking for opinions on what you guys would do.

Thanks

 

[Lx460]

It's fine as long as it didn't freeze within the first 24 hours.

Any moisture on the slab after that will only make it stronger.

 

[ProCharger]

What I do for a living. I would leave the snow, as said before it is an insulator. If you have a sump pump bucket, which I am assuming you don't or you probably would not have asked about the water under the slab, you can run a pump to make sure it is not filling underneath. Generally this time of year when we pour first night gets plastic only due to the concrete generating its own heat, then blankets for the next 3 days minimum. Any moisture that freezes before the cure the first few days can cause spalling/major problems. Once past that you should be golden. We try not to pour once it gets below freezing unless its something inside like a basement (subfloor in place) so we can add heat but warm days like you experienced we do everything we can as long as there is no frost in the ground.

 

[Beef1911]

We only put blankets down for the first 36 hours in Iowa. If it is below 35.

 

[PT Doc]

What I do for a living. I would leave the snow, as said before it is an insulator. If you have a sump pump bucket, which I am assuming you don't or you probably would not have asked about the water under the slab, you can run a pump to make sure it is not filling underneath. Generally this time of year when we pour first night gets plastic only due to the concrete generating its own heat, then blankets for the next 3 days minimum. Any moisture that freezes before the cure the first few days can cause spalling/major problems. Once past that you should be golden. We try not to pour once it gets below freezing unless its something inside like a basement (subfloor in place) so we can add heat but warm days like you experienced we do everything we can as long as there is no frost in the ground.

there is a sump pit just no pump. but electrical is on the property so getting a dirty water pump running is not difficult. I was more thinking of water sitting on top of the vapor barrier that covers the dirt under the basement floor as being an issue.
Thanks for the input.

 

[csp]

Your concrete is cured enough to not worry about the snow from yesterday/today. It had plenty of warm weather to set up enough that no moisture is going to harm it. You're worrying about a non-issue.

Edit: I misread this I think. So your structural floor is concrete? If so I'd shovel it off so that when it starts to melt tomorrow all of that moisture doesn't end up in the area below it.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

No Salt.

 

[PT Doc]

Your concrete is cured enough to not worry about the snow from yesterday/today. It had plenty of warm weather to set up enough that no moisture is going to harm it. You're worrying about a non-issue.

Edit: I misread this I think. So your structural floor is concrete? If so I'd shovel it off so that when it starts to melt tomorrow all of that moisture doesn't end up in the area below it.

yes, the basement floor is concrete on structural steel beams with crawl space and vapor barrier covering soil. I will get the wetness off the basement floor. good idea.
Thanks

 

[PT Doc]

builder shoveled 80% off basement by noon and I finished the rest. found out that the vapor barrier under the crawl space is the temporary one and that prior to closing a new one gets put down and gets mechanically fastened to the foundation at that time. garage is sloped and the moisture should be good for it.

 

[csp]

So just out of curiosity, why the concrete structural floor?

I'd much rather build/finish out a basement with a plywood structural floor.

 

[Zeke]

No Salt.

There's a man that has seen this movie.

 

[PT Doc]

So just out of curiosity, why the concrete structural floor?

I'd much rather build/finish out a basement with a plywood structural floor.

Structural basement floors are not uncommon here in Colorado. Expansive soils wreaked havoc decades ago due to swelling. Structural engineers make recommendations to install a structural floor if you plan on finishing the basement. I will likely not. But what this floor almost ensures is that your floor will remain stable and solid since it was decoupled from the soil beneath it. It is a pretty cool process and in my opinion was with it.

 

[csp]

Umm, look left and see what my location is. I'm a third generation native and have seen what the bentonite can do to concrete slabs poured directly on the ground.

I'm asking why concrete structural floor vs. wood structural floor. It's a question of materials, not why structural.

Maybe you're thinking you need to explain what structural is because you're not aware of wood use in them.