Concrete curing

Snowfire

Hoping to pour couple loads of readymix concrete next week weather permitting.
I know it’s not the ideal time for it, but it’s an area where the milk collection trucks travel, and during the dry period is only time I’ll get to do it.
So now I’m wondering how long should I avoid driving on it...? Tractor, milk truck etc. 5-6inch depth. Feedback welcome.

Say my name

If you really wanted to speed up the curing process this time of the year. Put down a layer of straw over the concrete as soon as you can walk on it or maybe you can cover from the sides and cover that with a sheet of plastic. Old silage covers if you had them.

Ideally about 5 days with the tractor or anything heavy.

Aravo

Along with a very wet day, frost would not be good. So try and avoid that. I would leave it a week at least. A lot of concrete achieves good strength after 7 days and full strength at 21-28 days. If a milk tanker will be on it I would use mesh reinforcement with some plastic under or if available some old silage cover. As with concrete, loads of help and don't water it down for the no shovelling effect used by many.

Snowfire

Aravo wrote: »

Along with a very wet day, frost would not be good. So try and avoid that. I would leave it a week at least. A lot of concrete achieves good strength after 7 days and full strength at 21-28 days. If a milk tanker will be on it I would use mesh reinforcement with some plastic under or if available some old silage cover. As with concrete, loads of help and don't water it down for the no shovelling effect used by many.

Ya, I’ve been guilty of that myself, adding water to leave the leveling job easier. Keeping traffic off it for a week or 10 days won’t be a problem, didn’t know if that would be long enough these days with such little drying out.

Odelay

Is it a very large area? You might want to cut it to allow for expansion on hot days.

Aravo

Snowfire wrote:

Ya, I’ve been guilty of that myself, adding water to leave the leveling job easier. Keeping traffic off it for a week or 10 days won’t be a problem, didn’t know if that would be long enough these days with such little drying out.

The cement content in the concrete will dry it out, the heat that concrete generates is phenomenal. The damper weather allows the concrete to dry out slowly which I think is better. On hot days you would be the whole time putting water on it.

Odelay wrote:

Is it a very large area? You might want to cut it to allow for expansion on hot days.

+1 cracks don't look good.

mickdw

If you are going to be running 30 tonne trucks on it regularly corners may be borderline strength wise at 6 inch.
In terms of curing time, id keep off it for 7 days and keep heavy trucks off it for 20 days or more.

SuperTortoise

I'd leave it a week+ curing before driving anything heavy over it at the very least.

3 the square

7 inches of 40 n concreate with heavy steel mesh underneath try staying off it for 3 weeks u have invested a nice sum of money don't risk losing it could u draw the milk out to the milk lorry for few weeks?

Snowfire

Odelay wrote: »

Is it a very large area? You might want to cut it to allow for expansion on hot days.

Stretch that milk truck will travel is 4 meters wide x 40 long.
I was told before that adding fiber mesh to mix really only helps prevent cracking during the first few days and isn’t going to prevent cracking from heavy traffic, so ya expansion joints would be the job I suppose.

Snowfire

3 the square wrote: »

7 inches of 40 n concreate with heavy steel mesh underneath try staying off it for 3 weeks u have invested a nice sum of money don't risk losing it could u draw the milk out to the milk lorry for few weeks?

No, drawing the milk isn’t really an option for me.

freedominacup

3 the square wrote: »

7 inches of 40 n concreate with heavy steel mesh underneath try staying off it for 3 weeks u have invested a nice sum of money don't risk losing it could u draw the milk out to the milk lorry for few weeks?

Put a key at the edge where tanker will be coming on to it. Basically pour ten inches for a couple of feet for extra strength.

Dakota Dan

It takes 28 days for concrete to cure.

Who2

Dakota Dan wrote: »

It takes 28 days for concrete to cure.

28 years if your being specific.

Odelay

Snowfire wrote: »

Stretch that milk truck will travel is 4 meters wide x 40 long.
I was told before that adding fiber mesh to mix really only helps prevent cracking during the first few days and isn’t going to prevent cracking from heavy traffic, so ya expansion joints would be the job I suppose.

If it's 40m long you need joints or cuts. Ask on the construction form or ask concrete supplier. Joints are fine, unexpected cracks are a hoor. Extra inches on the ramp is also a good idea.

Dakota Dan

Who2 wrote: »

28 years if your being specific.

Not being specific just stating facts :rolleyes:

mickdw

Dakota Dan wrote: »

Not being specific just stating facts :rolleyes:

Concrete is continually getting stronger over its lifetime so 28 years comment is not wrong.
It will be required to be at design strength at 28 days or before but will have gained alot of its strength in the early days and then the strength gain is slower as it goes past say 21 days.

56 day old concrete will be stronger than 28 day old concrete.

freedominacup

Hire one of these

https://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-344307/belle-easy-screed-pro.html

dzer2

Snowfire wrote: »

Hoping to pour couple loads of readymix concrete next week weather permitting.
I know it’s not the ideal time for it, but it’s an area where the milk collection trucks travel, and during the dry period is only time I’ll get to do it.
So now I’m wondering how long should I avoid driving on it...? Tractor, milk truck etc. 5-6inch depth. Feedback welcome.

Few things on this.
Any yards for artic travel we have put in are 8" with mesh or fibre.
We always do a 28 day test for the strength and leave for 50 days before travel
Try to have 2 layers of mesh in 10" at the edge and space the mesh properly.
Get the concrete specified as in the contents. Sand, stone, stone size, Newton spec and others like ash and silicone. This will give the hardness on the surface.

cycle4fun

Snowfire wrote: »

Stretch that milk truck will travel is 4 meters wide x 40 long.
I was told before that adding fiber mesh to mix really only helps prevent cracking during the first few days and isn’t going to prevent cracking from heavy traffic, so ya expansion joints would be the job I suppose.

I done a bit of concreting in my own farmyard a few years ago. I found it good to set up bays for pouring the concrete, with a width of approx 4m (12' wide). Bays wider then this can be difficult to screed and compact.

Dakota Dan

mickdw wrote: »

Concrete is continually getting stronger over its lifetime so 28 years comment is not wrong.
It will be required to be at design strength at 28 days or before but will have gained alot of its strength in the early days and then the strength gain is slower as it goes past say 21 days.

56 day old concrete will be stronger than 28 day old concrete.

I bow to your superior intelligence sir

Aravo

Can't see the 50 day no travel method working on any Dermot Bannon jobs

Panjandrums

This post has been deleted.

kieran.

if your putting saw cut joints in do the bays in a 6:5 ratio approx

patsy_mccabe

Make sure the mesh is in at the right height too. Right in the middle and it is useless.

darragh_haven

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Make sure the mesh is in at the right height too. Right in the middle and it is useless.

If using mesh, it's usually 50mm from the top or the bottom. Minimum 35mm concrete cover is required

wrangler

cycle4fun wrote: »

I done a bit of concreting in my own farmyard a few years ago. I found it good to set up bays for pouring the concrete, with a width of approx 4m (12' wide). Bays wider then this can be difficult to screed and compact.

Did you ever try the ''magicscreed''.....takes the backache out of it. for those narrow screeds up to 12ft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyxnGFyhyc0

Snowfire

kieran. wrote: »

if your putting saw cut joints in do the bays in a 6:5 ratio approx

6:5 ratio...?

Who2

Aravo wrote: »

Can't see the 50 day no travel method working on any Dermot Bannon jobs

Worked on a good few of his jobs. Most of his jobs were a disaster but all looked fierce well on camera .

wrangler

Who2 wrote: »

Worked on a good few of his jobs. Most of his jobs were a disaster but all looked fierce well on camera .

The builder seemed to pull the job outa the fire everytime......a good builder is as good as most architects

cycle4fun

Who2 wrote: »

Worked on a good few of his jobs. Most of his jobs were a disaster but all looked fierce well on camera .

A disaster in what way? Was the job rushed and concrete crack, leaks or whatever?

Aravo

When did he ever mention anything about: heating systems and what was used and why. Types of windows and doors. Type of insulation used. What energy rating the house achieved at end of build.

Kevhog1988

10 inches of concrete is fecking madness... theres only 4 inches of tar in most roads.... id put 6 inches down

Say my name

theemigrant wrote: »

10 inches of concrete is fecking madness... theres only 4 inches of tar in most roads.... id put 6 inches down

It's the milk lorry turning on the concrete that does the damage.
The Glanbia milk lorries are the heaviest lorries going the roads.
There's a bit of play and elasticity in tarmacadam. There's none in concrete.
I have 6 inches of concrete cracking from the lorries here. Granted there's no steel reinforcement in it. But there you go.
You'd live and learn everyday.

kieran.

Snowfire wrote: »

6:5 ratio...?

long narrow bays are more susceptible to cracking from shrinkage bays should be aprrox 6:5....6m x 5m or 3m x 2.5m etc

patsy_mccabe

Isn't it gas that everyone has an opinion when it comes to putting down concrete.

valtra2

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Isn't it gas that everyone has an opinion when it comes to putting down concrete.

Ya and I wonder how many have put down concrete and done all the things above. I have poured a bit of concrete in my day and you ask farmers to put steel in it and no way will they get it or tell them to keep it wet in the summer and you know they just left it the minute we left.

Kevhog1988

valtra2 wrote: »

Ya and I wonder how many have put down concrete and done all the things above. I have poured a bit of concrete in my day and you ask farmers to put steel in it and no way will they get it or tell them to keep it wet in the summer and you know they just left it the minute we left.

Id say ive poured .ore than most... fma lot of lads would put ib 4 inches more but no mesh

Snowfire

theemigrant wrote: »

Id say ive poured .ore than most... fma lot of lads would put ib 4 inches more but no mesh

What size mesh, and at what dept for my job, ya reckon..?

Say my name

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Isn't it gas that everyone has an opinion when it comes to putting down concrete.

Tis gas alright.
But sure when you're spending a sizable chunk you want to do it right. I've learnt from my own few bits and neighbours that you'd need 6in and mesh minimum.
Just make sure you put down some ducting (for future cables etc) in places.
Nothing worse than trying to cut and dig up trenches after in the future.

Cooney Furlong put in 9 in of reinforced concrete down in their grain fert intake yard.

Edited to say the community public/council roadway jobs around here used 6in (but was deeper in parts) of concrete and mesh.

Then there's the concrete strength (Newton) ....

Kevhog1988

Snowfire wrote: »

theemigrant wrote: »

Id say ive poured .ore than most...  fma lot of lads would put ib 4 inches more but no mesh

What size mesh, and at what dept for my job, ya reckon..?

Snowfire wrote: »

theemigrant wrote: »

Id say ive poured .ore than most...  fma lot of lads would put ib 4 inches more but no mesh

What size mesh, and at what dept for my job, ya reckon..?

6/8 inches and a252 mesh would be sufficient/.... get c40 concrete if you can

have2flushtwice

What's the price for concrete these days?

valtra2

have2flushtwice wrote: »

What's the price for concrete these days?

65 to 72 a meter depending on Newton

Who2

valtra2 wrote: »

65 to 72 a meter depending on Newton

Very few if any that I know of selling anything at 65at themoment. 68 minimum any place I know of.

Kevhog1988

have2flushtwice wrote: »

What's the price for concrete these days?

560 for a load from hanlons

Who2

theemigrant wrote: »

560 for a load from hanlons

8 or 9 metre