Most home concrete jobs take a few working days, then about a week of waiting before you drive on the slab. In Southfield, the season matters as much as the forecast, because outdoor pours stop once the ground freezes.
How long does concrete take to cure?
Concrete takes about 28 days to cure to its design strength, though you can use it well before then. It gains strength fastest in the first week. Curing means keeping it moist and warm enough to keep hardening, not just letting it dry out. Cool fall weather slows it down, so the wait before heavy use is longer.
How long before I can walk on new concrete?
You can usually walk on new concrete after a day or two. Keep pets, bikes and patio furniture off for a few more days, because the surface still scuffs easily. In cool weather, wait a little longer.
How long before I can drive on new concrete?
Wait about a week before you drive on new concrete with a car. Keep heavy loads such as a moving truck, a loaded trailer or a dumpster off for about a month. We give you a date for your slab. For the first weeks, do not turn the steering wheel while the car is standing still, and keep tires off the edges.
How long does it take to pour a driveway?
The pour itself is usually one day, after one or two days of prep. A typical order is a tear-out day, a base and forming day, and a pour day. Rain, a soaked base in spring, a right-of-way permit for the approach, or a large or stamped driveway can add days.
Can concrete be poured in the rain?
Concrete should not be poured in the rain when it is steady. Rain on a fresh surface weakens the top, and a weak top flakes first when salt arrives. A light shower before the pour is fine if the base is not flooded, and rain after the surface has set does little harm. In spring, the bigger issue in Southfield is clay that stays soaked for days after rain. We do not pour on mud or standing water.
Is it too hot to pour concrete in a Southfield summer?
It is rarely too hot to pour, but hot days change how we work. Summer here brings humid days in the upper 80s and some in the 90s, and sun and wind can dry the surface before it is finished. On those days we start early, dampen the base, pour smaller sections and get curing compound or covers on quickly. On the worst days, moving the pour to another morning is the better call.
Can concrete be poured in cold or freezing weather?
Yes, with care, but there are limits. Fresh concrete must not freeze in its first days, or the surface and strength can be ruined. In late fall we use insulated blankets, warm water or set accelerators from the plant, and we never pour on frozen ground. Once the ground freezes hard, most outdoor flatwork waits for spring. Indoor slabs in heated buildings can be poured in winter.
What is the best time of year to pour concrete here?
The best time of year in southeast Michigan is late spring through mid fall, from when the frost is out of the ground until nights start freezing. Early summer and September often give the best curing weather. Spring jobs can be held up by frost still in the ground and by wet clay. The season fills up, so booking early helps.
Can I use salt or deicer on new concrete?
Keep rock salt and other deicers off new concrete for its first winter. Deicers draw water into the surface and add freeze-thaw cycles, and young concrete scales most easily. Use sand for grip. On any concrete, avoid products with ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, which attack concrete directly. Southfield asks residents to salt their sidewalks for safety, so on a new walk, sand is the safer choice for that first winter. Rinse salty slush off aprons and garage floors when you can.
What should I do in the first weeks?
- Keep the slab covered or damp if we ask you to. It helps the cure.
- No cars, trailers or dumpsters on it before the date we give.
- Turn downspouts away from the new slab.
- Do not pile soil or snow against the edges before the backfill is done.
- If the pour was in late fall, leave the curing blankets on until we say.
- Call us with any worry. A photo helps.
Call (313) 789-3411 to ask about timing for your job.