Foundations poured - is my concrete too wet?

[garyo]

We spent last weekend hand digging the foundations. 7 metres to a depth of 900mm. I'm still aching now!

Building control signed them off yesterday, and my ready-mix has just been poured. It struck me as being a little wet, though. Over the longest trench run, as the lorry was pouring into one corner, the corner 4 metres away was around 50 cm too low, and flow had stopped completely, so required shovelling from that point onwards. Should the flow have been this good?

I spent ten minutes checking levels and smoothing it out with a float, but found that during this period water started rising to the surface, and by the time I left it I had around 5mm to 10mm of water. This was actually very handy for gauging levels. Should I be concerned? Or remove the standing water with a shovel when I return home?

Thanks

Gary

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You'll find that after concrete is poured, water will raise and collect at the top, this is not unusual. I personally would have tampered the concrete to level then left the water settlemnet on top until cured.

 

[garyo]

okay that's reassuring.

The water is still sat on top, as I was aware that it might aid strength if didn't dry out too quickly.

Cheers

Gary

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It always good to keep it hydrated whilst curing, so the water will help strengthen and reduce surface cracks.

 

[Deluks]

Sounds a little too wet for my liking but you can really take the **** with foundation concrete on small jobs, so no worries really.

 

[noseall]

Sounds like a regular/typical pour to me.

 

[garyo]

when I returned home, five hours later, the water had all disappeared and the concrete now looks and feels good.

I was also greeted by a building control letter, informing me to proceed at my own risk, because they've not signed off the outstanding snags in my plan yet!

So, I think I'll leave things for a few weeks now

Gary

 

[jeds]

I worked in Australia for a year when I was a lad and we used to flood the foundations with water to stop them drying out. Concrete loves to be damp and the longer it stays damp the harder it gets.

 

[garyo]

Should I be worried about the temperature tonight? The trench felt quite comparatively warm to the outside air at 10pm last night - will it have enough heat from curing to fend off a tickle of -1 tonight:

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/today.asp?zipcode=rg10

It's around 800mm x 500mm and 10 to 20cm below ground level so pretty substantial.

Thanks

Gary

 

[noseall]

Jack aint gonna bother them footings none.