How to mix concrete for pouring in frost

Experts do not recommend to carry out construction work in the winter, as for concrete pouring. However, in some cases it is impossible to delay the execution of work, and therefore it is necessary to look for a way out to ensure a qualitative result of the work.

The finished concrete mix consists of sand, cement, gravel and clean water. In conditions of low ambient temperatures, the concrete mixture may lose its technical properties. This is due to the fact that the water included in the composition crystallizes in the cold. The crystallized liquid fundamentally changes the structure of concrete, preventing the mixture from solidifying completely. After ice thawing, a monolithic concrete structure can turn into a formless substance that cannot fulfill the functions assigned to it.

Concrete work in winter

As already mentioned, in some cases, the ability to postpone the construction work for a long time there is no period, and therefore it is necessary to look for methods that can prevent crystallization of water in concrete mixtures.

These can be anti-frost additives, which include substances such as:

• Electrolytes, urea, polyhydric alcohol-containing compounds;
• Solutions based on calcium chloride;
• Sulphates with the main component in the form of iron.

These mixtures can provide antifreeze protection for concrete, significantly accelerate the formation of cement stone and make a monolithic hardened structure more durable and dense. The main advantage of such tools is the affordable cost and the lack of special skills for builders who just need to add mortars to the uncured concrete mixture.

Experts recommend increasing the mixing time of the mixture in one and a half to two times. This will allow the additive to evenly spread throughout the concrete composition and fulfill the assigned functions in full.

Other methods of mixing concrete in frost

If the ambient temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, antifreeze additives may not be up to the task. In this case, you should resort to other methods.

One of the effective methods is laying a heating wire, fixing it to the formwork elements and further pouring it with concrete. This method can not be called economical, but it is the most effective, because it can protect the concrete structure from freezing even at a temperature of -30 degrees Celsius.