Building a new extension

We loved our house from the first time we went through, but it really didn't have enough living space. We have worked on improving the layout of the home and increasing the living area of the home to create a modern and more pleasant layout to the home. We are really proud of how the job has turned out and we wanted to share some of the details of how the extension and layout changes where designed and constructed. This blog has some of the photos of our extension as well as tips that we have learnt along the journey,.

3 Working Tips for Concrete Pumping During Cold Weather.

Construction & Contractors Blog

During the cause of construction, a concrete pump can come in handy when transferring large amounts of liquid concrete. Furthermore, this is done with minimum use of labour. However, concrete pumping can present a set of challenges when the cold season starts and temperatures drop. The liquid concrete contains a large amount of water that may freeze during winter. When this happens, the progress of the concrete through the pipeline is halted and causes major delays. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to prevent such occurrences. If you are a concrete contractor just starting out or a DIY enthusiast hoping to perform concrete pumping during the winter, here are some tips to make the process more effective.

Use hot water to mix the concrete.

Use hot water when mixing concrete in the boom to combat freezing. This will raise the temperature of the mixture enough to make sure it takes longer before it freezes. While the water should be hot enough, avoid the use of boiling water. Boiling water will release a lot of steam that will cause condensation in the further reaches of the boom and the pipeline. Condensation in the pipeline will freeze and may completely block the exit of concrete. If hot water isn't freely available, use a portable water heater on water from an outdoor water source.

Insulate the pipeline.

The concrete can cool considerably as it traverses the pipeline. This is particularly true when the concrete needs to sit for a while before it is used. In such cases, the liquid concrete can easily solidify within the pipeline and block the passage. Attach foam tubes to the entire length of the pipeline to preserve the heat within it. Be sure to close up the insulation slits using duct tape or adhesive to make it more efficient. If this isn't enough, use insulating blankets and blanket heaters to keep the pipeline warm.

Use a concrete accelerator.

When pumping concrete in winter, it's extremely beneficial to have all the concrete pumped and set before it has the chance to freeze. Concrete accelerators such as calcium chloride can therefore help reduce the setting time of concrete. Take care to only use accelerators when the temperatures are low otherwise, a 'flash setting' can occur. This is a rapid development of rigidity of freshly mixed concrete. If the concrete freezes, thawing a concrete mix with an accelerator present will cause it to set very quickly while it's in the machine. In such a situation, waste no time when cleaning the machine and removing the concrete.

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25 August 2016