Concrete Pouring During the Rain

The question, which irritates the person constructing his /her dream home in rainy
days, is “should I carried out concrete pouring activity during rain?” or “can I lay
concrete in the rain?”. Here we have tried to explain few tips & tricks with the
explanation of what to do while concrete pouring during rain.

Before coming to the answer, first, understand how the concrete is made?

It is a mixture of construction materials like cement, aggregate, water and admixture,

etc.

The quality of concrete is directly related to its strength, which depend on water
cement ratio. The workability is the parameter of concrete, which determines the
homogeneity in the sense of the quality. The priorities and proportions of the
construction materials always affect the workability of the fresh concrete.

The rain water increases the proportion of water in the concrete mix at the time of
mixing, transporting, placing, compacting and finishing. The sand and aggregate get
wet in the rain, which raises the proportion of water in the concrete. These factors
increase the water-cement ratio of concrete mix. Though water-cement ratio
improves the workability of concrete, it ultimately reduces the strength to a great
extent.

An average increase of 0.1 of water cement ratio reduces strength by 5%. Hence
excess water in any case should be avoided. However, this does not mean, we
cannot pour the concrete in the rainy season.

What Happens When You Pour Concrete in the Rain?

It will depend on

Whether it rains during concreting or if it rains within 30 minutes i.e. initial setting
time of concrete.

If it rains between initial setting time and final setting time of cement i.e. after 30
minutes and before 600 minutes (10 Hour).

If it rains after final setting time i.e. 600 minutes (10 Hour).

01. The rain certainly affects the concrete pouring when it occurs before the initial
setting i.e. when concrete is in fresh condition. The initial setting time of concrete is
30 min. The rain also affects the concrete while mixing or transporting.

The rain increases the water-cement ratio of the fresh mix and hence results in
bleeding in concrete. The bleeding of water also carries the cement particle with it.
Hence, water cement ratio will get reduced, which will further decrease the strength
of concrete.
Also Read: Disadvantages of Bleeding in Concrete

If the formwork is fixed properly, the layer of cement slurry will be formed on the top
due to the settlement of solid particles by gravity action. This top layer becomes
porous and weak in nature due to rain, which results in the poor strength of concrete.
Sometimes plastic shrinkage cracks may also appear on the surface of the concrete.

Also Read: Why Crack Occurs During Initial Shrinkage?

02. Laying concrete is not easy during the rain. The rain affects the concrete pouring
when it occurs after the initial setting time (30 min) and before final setting time (600
min). It means, it is not in fresh condition or it is initially set. It also means the
concrete is in gel condition (your finger leaves only an impression but not dip into the
concrete when you touch it).

In this case, the rain does not affect the mix very much. The impression of rain
droplets will be seen on the surface of the concrete. It looks ugly as rain impact the
surface finish, but it will not affect the strength of concrete. Sometimes, If the
intensity of rainfall or the internal voids are higher in concrete, then rain may affect
the top layer of concrete.

03. The rainwater does not affect the pouring concrete when it occurs after the final
setting time (> 600 min) of concrete. It means concrete is in stiff condition (your
finger do not leave an impression on the surface when you touch it). On the contrary,
the light rain helps to cure the concrete and ultimately helps to achieve a good
strength.

Precaution while Laying Concrete in the Rainy Season:

Always see weather forecast and probability of rain on website like

skymetweather.com

The provision of the adequate good quality plastic sheet should be made in advance
at the time of placing the concrete.

The plastic tarpaulins sheets are used to cover the pouring area during the rainy
season. But remember that the plastic sheet should not be in contact with the
surface when you cover the surface of concrete at the time of rain. If it is laid directly
on the surface, then it may increase the setting time of concrete and disturb the
finishing. Therefore, you have to cover the plastic sheet in such a way that the
concrete will get air and workers can easily place, compact, and finish the concrete.
Ask him what quantity of water is to be reduced depending upon the intensity of the
rain. Also, exercise all precautions.

Simply reduce water cement ratio as the rain water is already present on the surface
of aggregate due to raining or increase the quality of cement, which is worthy.
The water-cement ratio should be reduced by mixing the appropriate admixture after
getting the permission of consultant.

The staging should be provided to cover the pouring area with the plastic sheet.
Every precaution should be taken to reduce the interruption due to rain during the
pouring activity. The bit of help should be taken from the weather department to plan
the pouring of concrete.

Spray rich cement slurry on the surface, where it has rained immediately after you
laid concrete.

If possible cover aggregate also, as when they become wet; they increase the water
cement ratio.

In conclusion, the answer to your question “Can I lay Concrete in the Rain?” is
generally you can, provided you do exercise all above precautions. You can pour
concrete in the rain. But of course not during very heavy rain as it will wash the
cement slurry in laid concrete.

You can lay concrete in the light rain like sprinkling or spraying of water with the
provision of the thick plastic sheet. However, It is advisable, not to start concrete
pouring in the heavy rain. It is also highly advisable to suspend the concrete pouring
work while its raining heavily.

If it is raining during pouring concrete or within the first 30 minutes i.e. initial setting
time of concrete then reduce the water cement ratio up to the required slump of
concrete, and lay a plastic sheet over concrete laid.

If it rains between after setting time and before final setting time i.e. after 30 minute
and before 600 minute (10 Hour) then cover the concreting or concrete casting area
with tarpaulin and spread the rich cement slurry on the surface of concrete where it
has rained.

If it rain after final setting time i.e. 600 minute (10 Hour) then no need to worry as
rain infect improve curing of concrete.