What is the Best Season for Concrete Repairs?

If you have a concrete surface such as a garage floor, driveway, basketball court, or sidewalk that is damaged it’s important to determine the best time of year to make repairs. Although many construction projects are completed in the summer because of the ideal warm and dry conditions, this does not always translate to concrete work. Here are some things to consider when planning the timeframe for your concrete repairs.

Location, location, location

Among many considerations, the location of your concrete project is one of the most important ones. Is your concrete indoors or outdoors? What kind of foot traffic will your concrete see during the various times of the year? If you’re repairing a residential basketball court that sees daily use from your kids, you might want to repair it before summer vacation hits. If your concrete surface is outdoors, is it subject to flooding during the wetter months? Pooling water can wreak havoc on concrete that is trying to set. Does the area see a lot of shade during the summer?

While hot and dry seems ideal, when it comes to concrete the ideal drying temperature is above 10 degrees but below 24 degrees. If the sun is shining hot on your drying concrete, the surface moisture may evaporate more quickly than the subsurface causing inconsistency in the strength of the concrete which inevitably leads to damage. Considering the area around your concrete slab factors into determining when the best window is for concrete repairs.

It’s all about balance

Life is incredibly busy and making time for things like house and business repairs isn’t always easy, and you may find yourself having to balance repairing issues like cracks before the damage gets worse and waiting for better weather. If you’re not sure where your issue falls on the balancing scale of repairing or waiting, it’s best to reach out to a professional in concrete repairs that can help you figure out the risks and gains of waiting or completing the repair in various weather conditions. There may also be repair options that you aren’t aware of to stem the damage while you wait for a more ideal environment to conduct repairs in.

Mild and dry

So, which months exactly are we talking about here? Well, here on the West coast, our most concrete-friendly months are the ones where the weather is mostly mild and dry. With the ideal concrete setting temperature of 10-24 degrees Celsius and the requirement for moisture in the area but not falling from the sky, the ideal months in BC for concrete repair are often early October, June, and September. With that said, if your concrete repairs need to happen outside of these recommended periods there are a few things you can do to mitigate any issues with conditions that are too hot, too cold, or too dry.

For example, if you’re pouring on a hot summer day, erect tents to shade the area while the concrete cures. If you must pour during the winter, aim for a stretch of relatively warmer days as concrete needs a few days to dry. Pouring in the morning also allows the concrete to benefit from the warmest parts of the day.

If you find yourself preparing for concrete repairs and you’re not sure which season best suits your project, talk with a professional in concrete construction. They will have the knowledge and experience you need to make sure your concrete sets right whatever the weather.