Outside cement work in monsoon?

Noodle

Hi, just have a quick question:

we need to do some work outside, mainly cementing poles into the ground and tiling with outside tiles. All this involves cement. The fabricator/builder guy says it needs "6 hours without rain" to dry properly. My question: is that really enough?

I'm wondering if he just says that because he wants to do the job quickly to get his money, regardless whether the work will be done properly or not.

Anybody knows? Thanks!

__________________
If in hole
stop digging.

Indian saying

ba9rn

Yes, it should be enough time! You (they) should make efforts to keep the area as dry as possible, but actually concrete will set under water! In most cases you need to keep it cool, and water helps. After six hours, it will be hard enough to not wash away and will continue hardening if immersed.

__________________
"After the battle, many new ghosts cry. The solitary old man murmurs in his grief." Du Fu

Noodle

Ok. Thanks ba9rn!

shashank.aggarwal

This needs an experts advice...and I am none..

it depends on the grade of cement..cements do settle down in 4 hours/6 hours..

but someone might advice better..

__________________
Travelogue - Around India
Random Reviews

ba9rn

An accelerator can also be added to mortar, but I very much doubt whether it would be needed in Pune (due to the temperature). You should be fine.

shashank.aggarwal

yes and actually if it settles for 5-6 hours..then monsoons are the best time for construction work...

Its take a long time to dry up and water actually helps the bonding of particles together and results in very strong structure..

iloveindia1234

6 hours is fine to dry out ....then u have to keep it soaked in water for 2 or 3 days to set in and get stronger.

Amyth

Yes, it's called CURING!... Soaking in water to solidify ...What a paradox!!

__________________
Smile -- it makes people wonder what you're up to

Noodle

I see. Yes, really paradox! But ok, then we can go ahead! Thanks guys!

federica

hey, this time I can post as an expert

Cementing poles into the ground: unless rain isn't pooring you can do this anytime (pooring rain would add too much water to the concrete mixture and the quality gets worse).

Concrete hardens "under water", and as slower it hardens, as better and stronger is the quality. On a sunny day you have to protect it, water it and keep it humid and cool. For poles in the ground this is no problem, as the soil around will do this job. For concrete slabs this is something important.

For tiling it is almost the same, rain while setting the tiles would destroy the mortar(it would get too liquid), but as soon as it is visibly hard, humidity and cloudy weather improves the quality.

PortieOwner

I once put a pole in the ground on a cold rainy January day in Maryland. It was so wet I had to bail out the hole before I could put in gravel and then cement. It snowed that night and the next day and got very cold. That pole is still out there in the yard, solid as can be.

Nick-H

Probably still frozen!

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Goldendeer

For a few hundred rupees you get large plastic sheets at local hardware stores. You can use these sheets to protect the cemented areas from the rain.

federica

Actually, the concrete has it's own built-in heater, while setting there's a chemical process that produces heat. That's why proper curing is so important on hot days... if it gets too hot, it cracks. Anyway, poles are not such a delicate thing as long as the soil around is ok...

Nick-H

It's amazing to find out that the ladies here are construction experts!

There's one in they eye for gender stereotyping !