Switched to accelerator for cold weather pours after fighting with blankets for years

I always thought accelerator was cheating but after watching a guy pour a slab at 28 degrees with 2% calcium chloride and it set up perfect while I was still wrestling tarps down the street, I finally gave in and honestly I haven't touched a heater since, anyone else make that switch or still sticking to the old ways?

2 comments

2 Comments

theathomas25d ago

Accelerator's fine for small jobs but you're trusting chemical reactions not to go sideways on something that could crack your whole foundation lol. I've seen too many guys rush calcium chloride and end up with surface problems later on. But hey if it works for your timeline and you're not dealing with temps below 20, more power to you.

brookefox24d ago

You're gonna trust some accelerator to do the work that careful planning and proper insulation used to do? Calcium chloride is basically a bandaid that hides problems until they show up as cracking or scaling a year later. I've watched guys chase that fast set and end up with floors that look like a jigsaw puzzle come spring thaw. The old ways with blankets and heaters let you control the cure from start to finish, not just the pour window. Accelerator might save you a few hours on pour day but it adds a whole lot of risk to your reputation when that slab starts telling secrets down the road.