The integrity of the slab depends on keeping the water ratio in the concrete mix low.
Pouring concrete walls in rain.
Don t let it rain on your parade.
Here are some tips for preventing and troubleshooting rain damaged concrete.
The enclosed area is continually flooded with water.
Concrete continues to gain strength after pouring for as long as it retains moisture but the longer it moist cures the slower the rate of strength gain.
If possible tent the pour with tarps to keep rain from mixing with the concrete.
The key to preventing damage to the concrete surface by a rainstorm is proper preparation and timing.
Once the damage is done it can be hard to rectify and will often ruin the appearance of the finished surface.
An 8 inch poured concrete wall costs 12 75 per square foot or 1 224 poured on average.
If it was not covered prior to the onset of the rain if the hardening was not very far along by that time and if there was enough rain falling with enough force the rain may have washed some of the cement out of the concrete.
The biggest problem you may be faced with is the effect the rain may have had on the surface of the concrete.
Walls taller than 8 feet should be 10 inches thick.
Pouring concrete in the rain can compromise its strength increasing the tendency for dusting and scaling to develop.
Rainwater can cause a new concrete surface to become soft which in turn decreases the abrasion resistance and strength of the concrete while increasing the tendency for dusting and cracking to develop.
The more rain that mixes with the semi solid concrete the more likely it is that the slab will fail.
After concrete is placed the concrete increases in strength very quickly for a period of 3 7 days.
Unpredictable summer thunderstorms can wreak havoc on a concrete pour.
Concrete which is moist cured for 7 days is about 50 stronger than uncured concrete.
Water curing can be done after the slab pour by building dams with soil around the house and flooding the slab.
This is vital if you re in the early stages of a pour when the skies open.