LMHmedchem
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2012
- Messages
- 92
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Hello,
I am in the process of trying to finish some repairs of termite damage on my porch. I am now starting to replace the temporary supports with proper posts. On Tuesday I poured the footer for a 6"x6" post using a 12" tube form. I used high strength Sakrete (4000). I didn't measure the water as I never have done that before. I added water and mixed with a hoe until the dry mix was moistened a little and then I added small amounts of water until the concrete was a good consistency to work with. I guess I just made it up like I always have.
The post and post base were cast in place and are supported with temporary supports. Everything went well but the temperature has been lower than I would like and lower than it has ever been when I poured concrete before. 24 hours after pouring, the surface of the concrete in the tube was still damp, which I have never seen before. The temperature was in the mid 60s on the day I poured the footer but it went down into the 40s over night and has only got to into the 50s for the 2 days following the pour. I would want it to be 55 degrees for 48 hours before removing the form. It is supposed to go up to the mid 60s tomorrow and the highs will be in the 60s for the next 2 weeks. It will likely get down into the mid to high 40s overnight on several of those nights.
My current plan is to wait a full week before removing the form and then wait 28 days before replacing the soil and removing the temporary supports. I will also cover the area with plastic when it is supposed to rain. Does this make sense or am I being too conservative? I have never done anything before other than pour the form, wait 2 days, and remove the form. I have never had any issues when doing that.
Advice would be appreciated.
LMHmedchem
I am in the process of trying to finish some repairs of termite damage on my porch. I am now starting to replace the temporary supports with proper posts. On Tuesday I poured the footer for a 6"x6" post using a 12" tube form. I used high strength Sakrete (4000). I didn't measure the water as I never have done that before. I added water and mixed with a hoe until the dry mix was moistened a little and then I added small amounts of water until the concrete was a good consistency to work with. I guess I just made it up like I always have.
The post and post base were cast in place and are supported with temporary supports. Everything went well but the temperature has been lower than I would like and lower than it has ever been when I poured concrete before. 24 hours after pouring, the surface of the concrete in the tube was still damp, which I have never seen before. The temperature was in the mid 60s on the day I poured the footer but it went down into the 40s over night and has only got to into the 50s for the 2 days following the pour. I would want it to be 55 degrees for 48 hours before removing the form. It is supposed to go up to the mid 60s tomorrow and the highs will be in the 60s for the next 2 weeks. It will likely get down into the mid to high 40s overnight on several of those nights.
My current plan is to wait a full week before removing the form and then wait 28 days before replacing the soil and removing the temporary supports. I will also cover the area with plastic when it is supposed to rain. Does this make sense or am I being too conservative? I have never done anything before other than pour the form, wait 2 days, and remove the form. I have never had any issues when doing that.
Advice would be appreciated.
LMHmedchem