Working with concrete during the summer months in Arizona poses significant difficulties due to the scorching temperatures and arid climate of the state. The intense heat, often exceeding triple digit figures, presents a significant challenge when it comes to pouring and allowing concrete to properly cure.

One of the obstacles faced when working with concrete in Arizona’s summer heat is managing the temperature “control” in the concrete being worked. To ensure proper concrete setting and curing, it’s crucial to pour concrete during periods of the day when environmental temperatures are lower, such as very early mornings or late evenings. Concrete itself produces heat when curing, so misting a little water on it sometimes helps cool it a bit when working it. Misting concrete is not the best practice, but is sometimes necessary when concrete begins to dry and has still not been finished being worked. However, it is important to always avoid misting concrete as much as possible, since this can lead to a weak concrete surface.

Once the concrete has been poured and finished successfully, it is often necessary to cover the concrete with a polyethylene vapor barrier so that the concrete does not dry up too quickly. A vapor barrier placed on the surface of a newly poured concrete structure allows the concrete structure to retain its humidity and to continue to pass such moisture throughout the internal microstructure of the concrete material. After concrete has been poured and is hard enough to walk on, it does not mean that it has been through its full hydration process. Micro molecules of concrete that never made direct contact with water are constantly hydrating and going through the chemical reaction that solidifies concrete. The more that these dehydrated micro molecules of concrete can hydrate, the stronger the concrete will be.
Another difficulty with working with concrete in very hot and arid environments is avoiding premature concrete cracks from forming in the concrete. Extreme temperature variations can lead to sudden expansion and contraction of newly poured concrete, resulting in the development of premature cracks in the concrete. To address this concern, builders often incorporate fiber, rebars, and/or other types of concrete reinforcements into the concrete mixture to enhance its strength and ability to withstand temperature fluctuations as best as possible.

To summarize, working with concrete during Arizona’s scorching summer months can be demanding to concrete material due to the high heat and arid climate. Planning, specialized techniques, and suitable materials are required to ensure proper setting and curing of concrete while mitigating heat related concrete construction issues like cracking. Collaborating with contractors and engineers who possess knowledge about the challenges in construction posed by Arizona’s hot and dry climate is crucial to a successful concrete project in Arizona.