It might be challenging to complete outdoor construction tasks using concrete when the temperature drops below freezing. This can hinder the setting time for concrete and prevent the earth from thawing during landscaping. By example, your contracting team may have to remain on-site for weeks if they can’t get warm enough to accomplish their work if you don’t take the necessary safeguards. As a result, it can cause you to lose time, money, and the ability to move on to other tasks.
The solution? Using Concrete Blankets laid a top freshly poured cement ensures that resulting concrete is free of cracks and other forms of damage. These are available in various thicknesses and are meant to maintain a constant temperature, which is ideal for curing concrete, blocks, and bricks. There are main benefits of hiring a concrete blanket that we’ll go through now. But first, let’s discuss how the cold can impact your site.
Concrete Blankets Ensure Drying in Cold Temperatures
Why Does the Cold Make Building Tasks Harder?
After its strength exceeds about 500 psi, concrete can withstand frigid temperatures. Before then, the combination may be severely damaged by the freezing of the vast volumes of water contained inside its pores. If the temperature stays above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the concrete will harden to its full compressive strength of 500 psi within 48 hours.
Any temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, though, will nearly completely prevent the concrete from building strength and setting correctly, so take care while pouring in colder climates. Extreme cold can also prevent freshly poured brick and block walls from developing correctly, freeze the ground, cause pipelines without insulation to break and damage expensive machinery.
Now that you know how cold weather can slow down or even stop construction, it’s time to learn how hiring concrete curing blankets can assist in preventing these problems and keep your projects on schedule.
We’ve established that maintaining temperatures over 50 degrees Fahrenheit is essential for concrete to form correctly. Concrete blankets are an excellent method of maintaining a stable, warm environment for curing concrete. These blankets can maintain the proper temperature for concrete even when the outside temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
And because of how fast the cement dries, you may need to rent one for a day or two. Three blankets will provide the maximum insulation and keep the concrete warm to the edges and corners. If there is a chance of wind, secure the blankets and cover any exposed rebar.
The drying process for newly installed brick or block walls can be accelerated with the help of concrete blankets. Intense cold is especially harmful to these materials; therefore, it is always advised to cover them with many layers of concrete blankets if the temperature goes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When placing your rental purchase, it is recommended that you conduct some online research to determine the days it will take for your materials to be set.
Protecting Workspaces from Intense Cold
When snow and ice combine to make building sites slippery, the conditions can be dangerous. These settings, at best, are hardly ideal for productive work. One of your workers (or perhaps yourself) could fall and sustain significant injuries, delaying progress on the project. Concrete blankets can be laid over the work area the night before to melt and prevent ice and snow from accumulating in preparation for the following day’s work. Keeping the workplace clean and secure can keep your employee content and on task.
Thawing the Ground for Landscaping
When the ground at your construction site freezes due to the cold, landscaping is an enormous challenge. Thankfully, the frozen ground may be swiftly thawed by placing concrete blankets. If you plan on laying stone pathways, constructing patios, or planting flowers and shrubs, this will be a tremendous help. Be sure to anchor the blankets to a stable surface before using them.
When temperatures drop, it can shorten the lifespan of or even render useless some pieces of machinery. For example, cold temperatures cause batteries to deplete much faster, making it more challenging to maintain your team’s saws, drills, and lights operational. Concrete blankets are a terrific method to keep the equipment your team isn’t currently utilizing warm and usable throughout the day. It’s essential to pick a dry, out-of-the-way location to store your belongings to avoid any accidents caused by water or tripping.
In the winter, water expands when it freezes, placing a tremendous strain on the pipes transporting it. This is primarily a concern for water lines in unheated spaces like basements and garages.
A lot of time and money may be spent on repairs if a pipe on your construction site bursts due to freezing temperatures. Just covering the length of the exposed pipe with concrete blankets will eliminate this risk. Until you can get permanent insulation solutions, this will keep the metal or plastic from being too cold and maybe freezing.
Types of Concrete Blankets
Insulated Tarps and Concrete Blankets
Polypropylene foam insulation is commonly used inside, and a polyethylene shell is used for the exterior. The combination of the two layers’ water resistance helps to keep the concrete dry. The inner foam layer of the other layer has the texture of a waterproof plastic tarp. An insulated tarp can help prevent water from penetrating the surface and keeps snow and rain from melting where you don’t want them. For extra bad conditions, these can be applied over the top of concrete blankets to better ensure a good result.
Since they lack substantial insulation, these are unsuitable for use in icy environments. While wet environments may prove problematic, they shine in dry ones. A wet cure blanket can slow the concrete’s drying time if it is curing too quickly. Wetness will be trapped under the blanket, preventing it from drying out quickly.
Primary Benefits
The advantages of a curing blanket are as follows:
- The use of curing blankets makes it possible to work with concrete in both cold and hot areas.
- Different blankets have different sizes and R-values.
- Some of them are heated, which is fantastic if you need extra warmth or if you have to work somewhere very chilly.
- They can be stored compactly when not in use and utilized repeatedly.
- The curing time of concrete can be sped up by using a blanket.
- Their resilience and longevity are unparalleled.
- Each blanket can be utilized with minimal effort. When you’re done, just set them on the curing concrete.
Summary
Curing blankets feature a deep black on the exterior to provide maximum temperature gain from solar heat and to help the interior insulation layers maximize R values; they’re silver on the bottom. Note too that curing blankets are available in a range of different R values up to 7.7. Wet concrete blankets also are available, depending upon your needs.
Standard sizes of concrete blankets range from 12-mil, 1/2-inch closed-cell measuring 3 x 25 feet to 12-mil, to 1/4-inch closed-cell blankets that are 12 x 25 feet. As a U.S.-based tarp manufacturer Tarps Now® provides custom made concrete blankets in sizes for any project you might have in mind, no matter the size.
