We all know that to remove the release agent, the finished job needs to be washed off. Lack of care using the high pressure water jet or uncontrolled application of Acid Wash, will potentially result in damage to the surface of the printed concrete.

Now that the temperatures are dropping the pressure is off. It’s a different game. There’s little chance of the concrete “getting away” from you. In fact, as many of you will know, it’s quite the opposite. You’ve laid the concrete and then it’s a waiting game. And it can be a VERY boring waiting game.

This cold climate and freeze thaw issue has been around for as long as I’ve been involved in the industry (25 years) and as each year passes, I realise that when the job is undertaken to the correct standard, (as indeed the majority are) the concrete is not damaged by these conditions, whether that is in Iceland, Czech Republic or the UK.

We’re now starting to get some low or even sub zero temperatures and again it’s time to think about protecting our freshly laid concrete to prevent frost damage whilst it is setting.

Ok, so Dr Concrete #10, ‘Adapt your Concrete Mix for the Winter’, was about changing the concrete mix design in the winter to reduce the time hanging around on site waiting for the concrete to ‘go off’, and in the process the additional benefit of getting a better quality job.