Too much rain to pour

[Keith Laufenberg]

I've got a big problem; I'm in an area of Florida where it's been raining everyday and I've got a driveway formed out and waiting to pour concrete. Do I just wait until I'm sure I'll get at least 2 dry days or do I get a 70' by 25' slice of visqueen for the rain? And, I'm using 300 psi with a 4 slump and wonder if I should change the slump because of the rain possibilities? also,the swale traps all the water and takes 10 times as long to dry out, a big problem because the rest of the driveway is dry within a few hours and the swale takes at least 24 hours, in which case as soon as it dries out, yup, it rains again. Any experiences or ideas are appreciated.

Keith G.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

This is not a DIY site, even for DIY Owner-Builders who purchase foreclosed unfinished developement homes.Hire professional sub-contractors and/or a qualified construction manager, consultant, etc.Your property and unfinished construction project, mere feet away from navigatable waterways, on the gulf, etc. requires even more strict attention and qualified environmental protection.Enough already.

[Keith Laufenberg]

Do you not have something better to do with your time Watson?

[chris mcintyre]

I'm using 300 psi...

Any experiences or ideas are appreciated.



I would use a higher strength concrete, but thats just me.:D

[Ted Menelly]

I would use a higher strength concrete, but thats just me.:D

Yeah, like 3000 or 4000 lb concrete. Use 300 pound concrete and do not trip and fall on it or it may just crack and crumble :p

[Randy Mayo]

Keith

All concrete contractors have been in your shoes. Your options are limited but here are some things to consider:

1.) How thick is you slab?
2.) Will you be using any reinforcement?
3.) What are you placing this driveway on? Is it on a well compacted drainable base made of crushed stone or dirt?
4.) What type of loads will this driveway carry? Normal cars and pickups or does this owner park a dump truck on it?

As far as pouring in the rain that has never work out with good results. I would have plastic on site in case it rains and place intermediate forms that you could finish to if the ran comes before you get done. Once you pour up to that temporary form pull it up and pour to the next one. It has always worked out better if the temporary forms are in place and not needed rather than trying to scramble during a downpour and build one.

That swale area is always a challenge, in the past if time was critical we would have some addition dry material on site and just replace that area and re-compact.

I would not change the concrete strength or slump. Adding water will only make it weaker. Since you are working in hot weather I would add some retarder to slow the cure time down which will give you more time to finish the concrete. Not knowing your circumstances that the best general advice I can give.

[Dom D'Agostino]

Murphy's Law dictates that the skies will open up as soon as the last of the concrete drops from the chute.

I'd wait, the rain will subside shortly.

Dom.

[Keith Laufenberg]

Randy,

Slab's 4"; I'm using fiber-concrete and soil is hr-packed clay full of limestone rock so hard that it consistently breaks the teeth on bobcats and backhoes and it's just gonna be for cars and my pickup truck.

Thanks for the advice and I think Dom's got a point about waiting; I think I'll be checking the forecast daily.

Keith G.

[John Kogel]

When I had an oyster farm, 20 yrs ago, I was setting chains into crevices in the rocks on the beach, then filling the crevices with concrete. We would have about 4 hrs before the tide came in over the fresh concrete. The chains are all pretty rusty now, but the concrete is still there.

You want a bit of a slope on the driveway anyway, so I would think after day 1 a bit of rain won't hurt.