Getting the right concrete mix to meet the design specifications is essential to achieving a quality finished product. Prairie is one of the Midwest’s most technologically advanced ready mix producers. Our Technical Services Group has the experience, skill, and capability to produce a custom performance mix for any set of requirements.
Our branded mixes have been optimized to meet the requirements of specific applications, offering durability, strength, and beauty, while ensuring excellent placing, finishing, and curing qualities. Determining the appropriate mix for each day, however, is both an art and a science. Our team will work with you to balance the performance characteristics of the mix design with the weather and environmental conditions, as well as the techniques you are using to place, finish, and cure the concrete.
Cold weather is defined as any period when the average daily air temperature is less than 40° F or less than 50° F for more than 12 of any 24-hour period on more than 3 consecutive days. Slabs lose moisture and/or heat rapidly in cold weather which affects setting time, strength gain, and long-term durability of the concrete. Cold weather can increase concrete set time to up to one-third for each 10° F decrease in air temperature as well as retarding concrete stiffening and overall strengths.
Some adjustments to the mix include:
Contact your Prairie sales rep to discuss which of these adjustments will work best for your job.
Hot weather can be defined as any period of high temperature in which special precautions need to be taken to ensure proper handling, placing, finishing, and curing of concrete. Other climactic factors such as high wind and dry air can also produce a rapid rate of evaporation from the surface of the concrete. Any combination of hot, dry, or windy weather can increase slump loss through rapid surface evaporation, accelerate set, increase the potential of plastic shrinkage cracking, and reduce strength, especially if water is added to compensate for slump loss. High humidity can offset some of these problems.
Some adjustments to the mix for hot weather include:
In addition, consider adding personnel and scheduling ready mix delivery to minimize delays during construction. In many cases, our customer service representatives can help you get the needed seasonal adjustments. Or contact your sales representative to help you decide what will work best for your project.
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