When temperatures plunge, working outside all day can take its toll on your crew and even cause severe frostbite. Here are some tips for staying warm and how to dress properly for winter weather conditions.

Outdoor decorative concrete work generally slows down in the winter, but it doesn't need to come to a screeching halt. In addition to protecting the freshly placed concrete with insulating blankets or enclosures, you can also modify the concrete mix itself to make it more resistant to the effects of the cold. Here are some important measures to take in the coming months to winter-proof your concrete.

Talk to your ready-mix supplier

Many of the tweaks that need to be made to cold-weather concrete can be done by the ready-mix producer. First and foremost, ask your supplier to use hot water in the concrete so the mix is at a temperature of at least 65°F when it leaves the plant. However, be aware that some heat loss may occur while the concrete is in transit to the jobsite, so you may want to test the temperature using a dial pocket thermometer or an infrared thermometer. Read more about changes to make to concrete mixes during cold weather.

Add an accelerator

A drop of 20 degrees can double the time it takes for concrete to set. An easy way to increase the rate of hydration is to add an accelerator, either at the ready-mix plant or at the jobsite. Be sure to use a nonchloride accelerator, since calcium-chloride accelerators can give the concrete a mottled, milky appearance and lead to the corrosion of any reinforcing steel embedded in the concrete. Learn more about set accelerators.

Warm things up

It won't do much good to have a concrete mix heated to 65°F delivered to your jobsite if you place the concrete on a frozen subbase. Warm up the ground and anything else that will come in contact with the concrete, including forms and embedments, to at least 32°F. You can thaw frozen ground using hydronic heating cables or electric blankets. Also remove all snow and ice in areas where concrete is to be placed.

In the current economic reality, customers often want more for less. A profitable stamped concrete project starts with planning to improve efficiency and knowing how to use time-saving techniques while producing a quality appearance. Courses at the Concrete Decor Show in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 20-24, will address real-world economic pressures, as well as methods to cost-effectively deliver quality and value. Read more.