Winter Curing

In the world of Concrete Construction, fortunes have been made and lost based on weather conditions.  Concrete blankets are used to even the winter playing field and allow construction companies to keep pouring even in the coldest of conditions.  Concrete Curing blankets really fall into 1 of 3 categories:

1. Simple fabric

2. Woven Poly-B

3. Electric Insulated

Of the 3 types of blankets available on the marketplace, we are most impressed with some of the new insulated electric blankets we’ve been testing.  Although more expensive than traditional fabric or Woven Poly-B blankets, these new electric curing blankets do a remarkably good job of retaining moisture and protecting concrete from freezing even in temperatures below -20F.  The best electric blankets we’ve tested included a very good R factor insulated foam backing with an inner heat-spreading material that keeps the heat in and cold out.  In 20 years of pouring concrete, I’ve never seen anything that comes close to these new electric curing blankets.  I’m speaking of the Powerblanket by Flatwork Technologies located in Salt Lake City, UT.  Somehow, they have managed to develop a patented heat spreading technology called “GreenHeat” that evenly distributes a barrier of warmth over a unique inner carbon fiber material that produces a wet cure environment in any weather condition… even extreme HOT or COLD!  These blankets are reusable and can be placed on vertical or horizontal applications allowing concrete work to continue, uninterrupted, all winter (or summer) long.