Undoubtedly, building in winter is more difficult than in summer. Most often, weather conditions are not too conducive to performing quality work. Usually, professional construction crews or craftsmen who wish to move into their own housing as soon as possible continue to work in severe frosts. Invaluable help for those and others will be specialized antifreeze additives. The use of the latter prevents the premature hardening of cement.
What is an antifrosty additive in a solution?
As a rule, with a significant decrease in the ambient temperature, builders begin to experience additional difficulties during the work with concrete and various solutions. All because cement-based compounds do not tolerate frost. So, at a temperature of -5 ° C, it would seem that high-quality solutions cease to gain strength.
In recent years, masters are increasingly using antifreeze additives that can withstand temperature drops of -35 ° C or more. Specialized compositions for cement mortars contain chemicals, the active components of which reduce the freezing temperature of water. As a result, concrete sets in masonry even in extreme cold.
The problem of organizing masonry in cold weather
When conducting construction in the winter, it becomes most problematic to provide structures with the necessary strength. When the temperature drops below zero, the liquid in the composition of the solution crystallizes. Thus, the process of hydration of cement is terminated.
As the air temperature rises, the ice formed inside the masonry and on the surface of the building material begins to thaw, which necessarily causes a decrease in the adhesion of the solution. Another negative effect is the formation of small cavities in the concrete structure, which subsequently can lead to a rather rapid destruction of walls and ceilings.
Features of the preparation of the solution
Despite difficult working conditions, brick laying in winter can be no less high-quality than in the warm season. However, in order to get the expected result, it is necessary to prepare a special solution, in the composition of which antifreeze additives must be present.
Starting to prepare the building mixture, you need to take care of personal safety. It should be borne in mind that almost all antifreeze additives differ in composition based on fairly aggressive chemicals that can be harmful to health. Therefore, during the preparation of concrete, you need to work in tight gloves, goggles, rubber boots and, if possible, in overalls.
For the above reason, building mixtures containing toxic substances are not recommended for use in the construction of foundations and load-bearing walls of buildings. Also, antifreeze additives in the masonry mortar are forbidden to be used to perform work inside residential premises.
Types of antifreeze additives
In order for the cement joint to acquire a sufficient level of strength until the liquid freezes, specialists traditionally use the following antifreeze additives in the masonry mortar:
- Potash (potassium carbonate).
- Sodium Formate
- Sodium chloride.
- Sodium nitrite (sodium nitrous).
- Potassium chloride.
For work in conditions of lowering the ambient temperature to -15 , the use of antifreeze additives in the form of nitrite and sodium formate will be the optimal solution .
With a more serious cooling to -30 ° C, it is advisable to use potash. The advantage of this solution is protection against corrosion in the case of the construction of reinforced floors. The use of potash also helps prevent efflorescence on the hardened solution. As for chlorine-containing additives, the latter do not slow down the destruction of the reinforcing parts of building structures.
Antifreeze supplement: consumption
In the manufacture of compositions for masonry, it is important to observe the necessary proportions. They depend, first of all, on the ambient temperature.
Let's look at the average norms that are typical for the use of the most popular "antifreeze" in the table. It reflects the consumption of antifrosty additives as a percentage of the mass of cement.
Air temperature | Sodium formate | Potash | Sodium nitrite |
-5 ° C | 2-3% | 5-6% | 4-6% |
-10 ° C | 3-4% | 6-8% | 6-8% |
-15 ° C | 4-5% | 8-10% | 8-10% |
Plasticizers
The antifrosty additive in the mortar can be replaced with special plasticizers, which increase the elasticity of the building mixture and reduce the need for the use of liquid. Thanks to the use of the latter for several days in the stacked composition, practically no changes occur. Thus, the solution manages to set even with significant frost.
In addition to masonry, such a specific antifrosty additive can be used for glue, preparation of mixtures for arranging bulk floors, when performing concrete work. Plasticizing agents are mixed with a minimum amount of water. Their content in the solution is about 5% by weight of cement. Observance of this proportion is sufficient to perform reliable masonry at low temperatures.
What you need to know about the performance of masonry work in the winter?
In order not to be disappointed in the results of construction activities that are carried out at negative air temperature indicators, it is enough to pay attention to the following recommendations:
- For masonry it is forbidden to use building materials covered with snow, hoarfrost or ice.
- All components of the future solution, including antifreeze additives and plasticizers, should be stored in dry, ventilated rooms at room temperature.
- Regardless of the composition of the mortar and temperature conditions, laying in winter is recommended to be done as quickly as possible. Lack of delay allows substances to seize faster.
- Going for a break, the rows of masonry must be insulated with plastic wrap or other suitable material suitable for the role of an effective temporary insulator.
- As a basis for the preparation of the solution, it is worth using cement of a grade of at least M-50. Mixing components even in the case of the use of "antifreeze" should be carried out in a warm room.
- If it is necessary to work at low temperatures, it is better to give preference to the acquisition of ready-made solutions in which antifreeze substances are added in optimal proportions even at the production stage.
Eventually
When performing construction work in the winter, the main thing is to remember to add special antifrosty additives to the solution. However, the introduction of "antifreeze" in the cement composition seems appropriate only if the ambient temperature drops to -5 ° C.
During the preparation of the solution, it is absolutely not recommended to use long-stored, old antifreeze additives with a doubtful shelf life. Otherwise, you will have to pay with the formation of abundant smudges and efflorescence on the surface of structures.