Postcrete - Ok outside?

[buckaroo]

We had a few bags of Postcrete delivered late last summer as we are putting a wooden fence in at the back of our garden.

It was delivered on a pallet, and is sealed but has been outside, and through the mild winter we've just had.

Is this still ok to be used as its sealed? to put some wooden fence uprights in?

 

[merlin50]

not if its as hard as a brick

 

[buckaroo]

Good point.

Just been out to look at it and its all sealed, and i can press my thumb into the bag and it bends as if its all ok.

I'll move it into the shed this afternoon so its covered whilst I remember

It seems like its just been bought, and you can feel the powder through the bag - also says its in a new water resistant bag, so am thinking it might be ok

 

[r896neo]

check its not 3 months out of date. there is much debate as to whether the dating on cement matters and after reading many posts about it i still don't know.

 

[merlin50]

use mine if its 3 years out of date

 

[buckaroo]

Good job I looked at the date! - its "use by : 22/3/12" !!!

Thats 3 days time!

Surely they can't be that accurate? Could I still do this within a month or so?
Or are they that strict and it will turn into a solid brick lump if its not used and its stored in a dry shed?

 

[r896neo]

Its not neccessarily to do with whether the cement is useable and more to do with it becoming more irritant due to additives or something. As i said i don't understand it and think very few people do but as merlin says i frequently use it out of date anyway

 

[ConcreteDrBill]

Correct, the shelf life is to do with minimising the risk of chromate dermatitis (only a few% of people are actually susceptible). If you use out of date materials take precautions to keep it off your skin.

Otherwise the plastic packing is usually OK for months outside. If the bag still feels soft it will work !