In the Midwest, working with concrete during the winter months can be a massive challenge. Temperatures can drop so low that they freeze the ground and make it tough to place and cure your materials, resulting in massive drops in efficiency that cost you valuable time and money. Fortunately, there are a variety of tools and techniques that you can use to warm up the ground in preparation for concrete application, but not all of these tactics are convenient and cost-effective. For example, some construction teams and contractors will elect to enclose the work space and heat the air inside. These enclosures are comfortable and effective, but they’re also incredibly expensive to setup and maintain, making them a poor choice unless the ground is so cold that concrete can’t be placed properly without them. If you’re interested in finding an inexpensive tool for curing concrete without compromising on the quality and speed of your project, then you should strongly consider investing in high-quality concrete curing and ground thaw blankets.
Concrete curing blankets have a variety of useful applications on winter construction sites. They’re fantastic for protecting and curing concrete slabs, curing newly laid brick or brick walls and thawing ground surfaces in preparation for landscaping jobs. Here at On Site, we take pride in providing contractors with all of the tools and support they need for their sites. Today, we’ll be teaching you about concrete curing blankets and when you should use them.
Why Are Concrete Blankets Useful?
As most of us know, curing concrete is an essential process that ensures that the slab retains moisture and delays drying shrinkage while the concrete hardens. Additionally, concrete is substantially stronger, more durable and more resistant to wear when effectively cured. However, this curing process usually takes around seven days to complete, and the slab must be kept within a certain temperature range (around 50°F) throughout this period of time. That’s why it can be so difficult to cure concrete during winter. All of that snow and freezing wind tampers with your concrete materials at every opportunity, slowing down the curing process substantially. And if you fail to take proper protection precautions with your concrete, these slowdowns will negatively impact the efficiency and profitability of your business by keeping you at the same site for much longer than necessary.
Concrete blankets are highly effective at keeping concrete warm during its curing process because they’re made with resilient polyethylene fabrics and foams that offer exceptional insulation and durability, two essential traits for any materials that need to survive and perform in harsh and cold climates. Consequently, these tools are capable of protecting poured concrete by keeping it warm even if external temperatures drop below 20°F. And considering their excellent coverage area, you can use these blankets to disperse heat over large sections of concrete at once. Best of all, in the event that temperatures drop under 20°F, you can pair high-quality concrete blankets with ground thawing machines to maximize coverage while minimizing rental costs. For example, On Site’s E1100 Hydronic Ground Thaw Heater synergizes perfectly with our concrete blankets because it’s capable of thawing massive portions of frozen ground (up to 1,750 square feet) in one day. Together, these two heating tools can make the process of curing small to mid-sized slabs of concrete effortless and affordable.
Renting Quality Ground Thawing Equipment for Your Site
While concrete blankets are an outstanding investment for just about any contractor who frequently takes on outdoor work, they’re often unnecessary for most months when the sun is shining and temperatures are manageable. That’s why most concrete experts choose to rent their blankets from a reputable provider rather than purchasing them and having them sit in their garage or storage unit for eight to nine months of the year. Here at On Site, we offer a range of concrete blankets that are designed to work with hydronic ground heating systems. These products are ideal for protecting concrete slabs, curing brick or block walls and thawing ground surfaces, making them useful in a wide variety of settings, including:
On Site can also provide your job site with an extensive selection of ground heaters and ground thawing systems for projects of any size and scope. We offer everything from the Thaw Box (a small heater that can be placed on the ground in preparation for the installation of poles, ditches and egress windows) to the E5000 (a massive ground heater that can single-handedly cure up to 10,000 feet) and everything in between. Check out our Hydronic Ground Heating page if you want to learn more about these innovative heating units and others.
Rent Concrete Blankets From On Site
If you’re interested in renting concrete blankets for your construction site, be sure to get a quote from On Site today! Our rental process is exceptionally quick and easy. All you have to do is follow that link, enter in some basic contact information, the address of your construction site, your requested delivery date and the number of products your project requires. We take care of the entire equipment delivery and retrieval process, giving you the peace of mind to focus on finishing your work, getting paid and moving on to the next job.
Last but not least, please feel free to call or message us if you have any questions about ground heaters and heat blankets for concrete or want additional advice on how to maximize the efficiency of your projects during winter months. We’d be more than happy to set you up with any advice or resources you need. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
