Concrete Doesn’t Have an Off-Season: The Best Time to Pour Concrete in Utah
The Best Time to Pour Concrete in Utah
If you live in Utah, you know the weather doesn’t always cooperate with your plans. Hot summers, freezing winters, wet springs and rapidly changing fall temperatures can make it seem like there must be one perfect time of year to pour concrete.
The truth is, there isn’t. Concrete can be poured year-round when the conditions are right and the proper precautions are taken. Each season brings its own advantages and challenges, and the key is knowing how to plan for them.
Here’s what Utah homeowners should know about pouring concrete throughout the year.
Spring: Good Temperatures, Unpredictable Weather
Spring can bring some of the best temperatures for working with concrete, but it also comes with its share of challenges.
Temperatures are generally more moderate than they are during the summer, which can make placing and finishing concrete easier. However, Utah spring weather can change quickly.
Rain is one of the biggest concerns. Concrete needs to be placed on a suitable base, and excessively wet or saturated ground can create problems before the concrete is even poured.
Freeze-and-thaw conditions can also be an issue early in the season. A warm afternoon doesn’t necessarily mean the ground and overnight temperatures are ready for a concrete project.
Spring can be a great time to pour when the site is ready and the weather cooperates. It just requires more attention to changing conditions.
Summer: Long Days and Hot Temperatures
Summer is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for concrete contractors.
The long days and generally predictable weather make it easier to schedule projects and get large pours completed. Homeowners also tend to have more flexibility during the summer months.
The biggest challenge is heat. High temperatures can cause concrete to lose moisture quickly and can accelerate the setting process. This can make finishing more difficult and gives the crew less time to work with the concrete.
Hot, dry and windy conditions can also increase the risk of excessive moisture loss during the early stages of curing. That doesn’t mean concrete shouldn’t be poured in the summer. It means the pour needs to be planned around the conditions.
Starting at the right time of day, having the crew and equipment ready to go, and properly managing the concrete during placement and curing all become more important when temperatures are high.
Fall: One of the Best Times to Pour
Fall is often one of the most comfortable seasons for concrete work in Utah.
Cooler temperatures can slow the setting process and provide more manageable conditions for placing and finishing concrete. The extreme heat of summer is gone, while freezing temperatures generally haven’t arrived yet.
The challenge is that the window gets shorter as the season progresses.
A warm September day can look very different from a cold November night. As temperatures begin dropping toward freezing, concrete pours require more planning to make sure the concrete can properly gain strength without being exposed to damaging conditions.
For homeowners planning a project, early and mid-fall can be an excellent time to get concrete work completed before winter.
Winter: Concrete Doesn't Have to Stop
Winter is where the idea that “you can’t pour concrete in Utah during the winter” comes from. Cold weather does create additional challenges, but winter doesn’t automatically mean concrete work has to stop.
The key is knowing when to pour and how to protect the concrete. We avoid pouring during snowstorms or other severe weather, and we never place concrete on frozen ground. When temperatures are cold, we can add hot water and calcium in the mix to help the concrete set up faster. If temperatures are expected to drop low, we can also use concrete blankets to protect the concrete while it cures.
Winter pours require looking beyond the temperature at the time of placement. We consider the forecast, overnight lows, ground conditions and how the concrete will be protected during its early curing period.
Some winter days simply aren’t suitable for a pour. Others can provide perfectly workable conditions with the right preparation, mix and protection. That’s how we keep pouring year-round, even through Utah winters.
So What's the Best Time to Pour Concrete in Utah?
If you asked us to pick a favorite season based purely on typical working conditions, fall would be hard to beat. But that doesn’t mean you should automatically wait until fall to start your project.
The better question is: “What are the conditions for my project right now?“
A concrete project depends on much more than the calendar. Some of the factors we consider include:
- Current and upcoming temperatures
- Overnight lows
- Wind, precipitation and weather changes
- Ground and subgrade conditions
- Project size and type
- Concrete mix requirements
- How the concrete will be protected and cured
Does Waiting for Spring Make Concrete Better?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we hear from homeowners. Someone may have a project they want completed in the fall or winter but assume they should wait until spring because “that’s when you’re supposed to pour concrete.
If the weather and site conditions are suitable, there may be no reason to wait several months. In fact, waiting can mean pushing the project into a busier part of the year when contractor schedules fill up quickly. Spring also has its own challenges, including rain, wet ground and temperature swings.
The goal shouldn’t be to find a particular month on the calendar. The goal should be to use the right methods for the season’s conditions.
Why Experience Matters
Concrete is a material that responds to its environment. The same concrete project can behave differently on a hot summer afternoon than it does on a cool fall morning. Cold weather introduces different concerns than summer heat, and wet spring conditions can create problems before the concrete is ever placed.
That’s why experience matters. A contractor who pours year-round needs to understand how changing weather affects scheduling, placement, finishing and curing. It also means knowing when conditions aren’t right. Sometimes the best decision is to adjust the schedule rather than force a pour in the wrong conditions.
Planning a Concrete Project in Utah
If you’re considering a new driveway, patio, RV pad, walkway, stairs, retaining wall or other concrete project, don’t assume there’s only a small window each year when the work can be done. There are good opportunities throughout the year. The most important thing is to plan around the conditions and make sure the project is prepared correctly.
At All Hale Concrete, we pour year-round throughout the Salt Lake and Utah County areas. We work with Utah’s changing conditions and plan each project based on the specific site and time of year.
If you’re thinking about a concrete project, give us a call or request a free estimate below.