Should I pour before winter?

[klutz]

Hey everyone, I'be been learning lots on here so far... and this is now my first post.
Living in Canada I'm expecting to have snow in the next 5 weeks or so... Unfortunately the guy I hired to pour cement has been pickin' his **** cheeks instead of starting. I've given him the benefit of the doubt more than twice. My question is... even if I do find another contractor, and the cement work is done before snow, is it wise to leave it sit uncovered all winter long? And will it heave, and move with the moisture, and feezing temps?

These are my details... Attached garage measuring 26'x37', the rear wall will be 12' high, and the side will start at 12' and step down to 4 feet.



Thanks in advance

 

[Mike83]

Is this just the walls you are pouring? Generally the first 7 days are critical for proper cure. Keep the walls insulated if it is cold out, and the heat of hydration will be kept in. We pour concrete all winter long in Wisconsin for bridge work. Just a matter of how much you are willing to pay for insulation, heating the formwork, etc. After a week it is ok to leave the concrete exposed.

You can buy $2 digital thermometers and stick the probe into the concrete (while it is wet) to monitor the temp. This lets you know if you should cover it more or if it is getting too hot. They also give min/max temps. A simple and effective way to get a good cure. Just yank the wire and throw away the thermometer when done. Hope this helps!

 

[TRC51]

I am doing the same thing. My plan was to pour the concrete work this fall (currently in progress) and leave it sit over the course of the winter to stick build in the spring. I talked to a couple of engineers and some said it might be better, some said... eh... I don't know. If it's poured right, it's not going to be any different than having a building on it. The only thing I worried about was rain water/snow melt getting into cracks and freezing. If you can cover it with tarps it would help, but having it sit open and get rained on it the fall will only help to allow the concrete to cure and harden even better.

Currently I sold my motorcycle to buy the stick built portion of the garage, so it looks like I may be able to get a roof over mine. But, nothing is certain right now. I made the decision to let it sit over the winter if I have to.

 

[nate379]

Is your contractor the same as mine? haha

My driveway was supposed to be done by June 30 per the contract we signed. Here it is darn near the end of September... and..... no driveway.

 

[klutz]

Once the cement work starts, I'd prefer it be complete, including radiant in floor heating, and floor.
I don't think "curing" will be any problem Mike, days here are still about 18 degrees, but my big concern was having the slab sit all winter long. Like TRC stated, rain,and snow melt seaping under the floor, and then freezing. Am I being too critical?


Ha, yeah... it's been a touchy subject. Hard to find good help.

 

[ddawg16]

Keep it well covered....in fact, after about 5 days.....throw on a couple layers of straw and then a couple of tarps over the top of it.....the will keep it warm for about 30 days.....when the ground starts to freeze then your in danger of the foundation freezing.....if you make it past the 30 days....then for the most part....it's no different if the foundation was a year old....

 

[nate379]

We have a couple more weeks left around here for that kind of work, but it's getting close now. Been getting close to freezing at night.

 

[TRC51]

If the contractor waits too long, I am told that the concrete supplier can use a "winter mix". I guess they put calcium in it or something like that, but my concrete guy mentioned it to me when I was asking about what his "season" is. His response was that they pour all winter long using the winter mix I mentioned. May be something you can talk to your supplier about? If the price is higher for the winter mix, make sure it's out of his pocket.

 

[brownbagg]

people pour all year round, go ahead, pour a little dry, it cure faster, no problem. he picking his **** because he has other jobs pouring, find someone else and do it this week. Life doesnt stop just because of the weather

 

[walrus]

Am I being too critical?


.

No you aren't,it depends on soil conditions under your slab. If you have well drained soil, you'll be ok if not your asking for trouble. I have 5 feet of gravel under my slab, I'd leave it uncovered without an issue. If you have 6 inches or a foot of gravel and then clay, I'd almost guarantee a cracked slab after a harsh Canada winter

 

[klutz]

Sadly I am contemplating calling off the build for this year. I can't place orders until I have concrete... OH door is 2-3 weeks, trusses are 3-4 weeks, beam is one week, plumbers take a week to book, and then theres the steel shingles, yada yada yada. I'm rather distraught about the whole thing, I had all my eggs lined up and ready to go.

P.s. is 15k way too damn much money for just the concrete work on my 26'x37'??? (attatched)

Thanks for your imput guy's.... I appreciate it

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I would definitely wait until it warms up, and i think $15k is a little to much. I thought the price was set by paying for the cost of the concrete which is $100 a sq.yd and $1-2 per square ft for the labor,at least in my area.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

P.s. is 15k way too damn much money for just the concrete work on my 26'x37'???

Canadian Dollars I assume?

Charles

 

[klutz]

Yes, thats canadian currency... but being 93cents on the dollar, theres not much difference.

I think I've decided to find a more reliable concrete guy...( maybe me accepting the highest quote was a mistake). And starting the build in the spring.

ha ha ha maybe theres a sale on tarps, I'll need something to cover all my sh-tuff.


Thanks fellas

 

[TRC51]

Yes, thats canadian currency... but being 93cents on the dollar, theres not much difference.

I think I've decided to find a more reliable concrete guy...( maybe me accepting the highest quote was a mistake). And starting the build in the spring.

ha ha ha maybe theres a sale on tarps, I'll need something to cover all my sh-tuff.


Thanks fellas

Dang man... sorry to hear about the delay. I would definitely shop the concrete guy. I had some pretty good luck calling for references from the concrete suppliers, but it was a pain trying to get some of them to call me back. To most this is a "small" job I guess. Regardless, if you hold the whole job back, just be sure to hide the money somewhere so you don't spend on something. I started mine this year because I knew if I didn't, my add would have some or all of the money spent on the next shiny thing.

Good luck to you.

 

[klutz]

Ha yeah... funniest thing about spending the dough on something shiny, is that after the purchase, I wouldn't have anyplace (indoors) to park it. And believe me, I've already been joking about a corvette. LOL

Dang, I'm wondering if my concrete guy is a member here... He called and left a message tonight while I was loading up for an ATV weekend.

 

[VHF]

ha ha ha maybe theres a sale on tarps, I'll need something to cover all my sh-tuff.

I used a 10x10 Shelter Logic "Shed in a Box" to keep critical items under cover before my garage was under roof. Around $130 when on sale at Menards or Farm and Fleet.

They also make a 10x20 as well as an arched opening 12x20.

 

[Thomarann]

$15k seems about right to me - I paid $20k for my 30x32 with in floor heat......but labour costs in Alberta are sky-high.

Marc

 

[klutz]

Good idea VHF, I had a 10x20 a few years back, and it lasted 3.5 years... maybe I should just get a small one for essentials, and sell it when I'm done with it.

Thanks for the ideas, and help guys.

 

[klutz]

P.S.... Marc, nice garage build. Very organized, I dig it. And the Porshe is sweet too.