Concrete Pour Delays

Understanding Weather Delays in Concrete

At Keep It Wet Concrete, we absolutely refuse to pour a bad slab. Concrete is a highly volatile chemical reaction that relies entirely on an undisturbed curing process. If the environmental conditions are wrong, the concrete will fail.

1. Rain & Subgrade Moisture

This is the most common reason for a delay in Florida. If it rains heavily before a pour, the dirt subgrade turns to mud. You cannot pour concrete onto standing water or mud, as the unstable base will cause the massive weight of the concrete to sink and immediately crack. Additionally, if it rains *during* the finishing process, the water will wash the cement cream off the top, exposing the ugly aggregate rock and ruining the smooth finish.

2. Freezing Temperatures (<40°F)

The chemical hydration process of concrete generates its own heat, but if the ambient air or ground temperature drops below 40°F, the water inside the concrete mix can actually freeze. When water freezes, it expands. This expansion rips the concrete apart from the inside out, permanently destroying its structural integrity.

3. Extreme Heat (>90°F) & High Winds

While Florida heat is great for the beach, extreme direct sunlight (90°F+) combined with dry winds can cause the surface of the concrete to cure much faster than the bottom of the slab. This rapid surface evaporation leads to "shrinkage cracks" or plastic-shrinkage tearing. If it's too hot, we either have to delay until early morning/late evening or use specialized chemical evaporation retarders.

Our ultimate goal is a slab that lasts you 30+ years. We monitor the forecast daily and will communicate with you immediately if mother nature forces us to adjust the schedule to protect your investment.