Its not very often I try my hand at building work, and there's a reason for that, I'm not very good at it. But how come, EVERY time I get the sand and cement out to work on my patio project, it absolutely chucks down with rain? A couple of weeks ago, it had been lovely all day so after work I decided to finish off my quarter circle patio that is the evening chillout area (gets the last sun of the day). All I had in mind was to mix a dry mix of sand and cement, and sweep it into the gaps between the stones. As there was no sign of rain when I started, I decided it was safe to mix the cement on the patio, as being a dry mix it wasn't going to stain the stones. As soon as I got a couple of spades full of dry cement poured onto the stones, clouds appeared from nowhere and it started hammering it down. There I was frantically sweeping the now very wet cement, fearing it would stick to the top of the stones if I hung around. Then today, I thought I'd work on the next phase. I dug a shallow trench to lay the foundation for the one brick high retaining wall for the straight patio. Filled it with gravel, then sand and cement, and built the 'wall'. I got the row of bricks in ok, and then added more mortar to really pin them in place. It was drying nicely, and then tonight, lo and behold, it is absolutely chucking it down outside. Am I doomed to have my unset cement rained on? Will it do it any harm? And one last thing. Is it just me, or does everybody have to struggle to fight the urge to test the strength of their constructs before the cement has had time to set properly?
Hi Clueless I hope you covered your cement with some plastic sheets - old compost bags are ideal - to keep the rain off ? Its also best to cover new cement in hot weather as well to let it dry slowly. Covering also removes the urge to give it a tug to see if it is set ,it never quite is ! We have all done it :D pavingexpert - Paving, Drainage and Hard Landscaping Advice This site has all the answers to cement and mortars - it really does have!
in south africa, when slabs were cast for new foundations of a new build home, I often saw the builders watering the cement with a hose on a daily basis for a few days so that the cement could 'cure'? I may be mistaken, but know they done that on my 1st home, and that's the way I understood it? here is a link that also verifies it: http://www.ehow.com/how_2085964_cure-concrete.html
Same thing happens to me when i'm doing a roof, as soon as I take the tarp off down comes the rain. We had to re roof Arlington court stable block back in 2000, the local radio said if it rains today that'll be the 100th consecutive day of rain:DOH:
Sending some up now, should be over Nuneaton by about 10pm, oh, i've been voted a rain god on here by the way.:DOH:
That's good Ziggy!! Now I have someone to cuss out when we don't get any! Maybe I'll start now..........
