Cement out side...

[Ossett]

Hi fellas,

Do bags of cement have a shelf life? The reason I ask is that I started a project last year and got beaten by the weather so was left with 15 bags of cement. They are in their undamaged bags in the garden, on a pallet, well wrapped up and protected from the rain but not the cold.

I am getting a skip in the next week or so so if they have 'gone' I don't mind launching them.

With them being subject to temperature fluctuations would this effect their properties? I'm not a tight arse but if they are usable then they will be used. They will be used for some mortar for a concrete block wall and some rendor for the same wall.

Cheers, I did do a search but could find nowt.

[lutonlagerlout]

generally speaking cement is hygroscopic,this means it attracts moisture
so chances are they will be like bullets
i sometimes use old cement for leanmix,or such but if its too lumpy skip it
LLL

[seanandruby]

Know what you mean m8. i hate skipping anything. i think most of us are like that. Always think " there is a use for that". my sheds full of useless stuff that will come in useful one day. had ten bags of renderoc for 5 years at £37 a bag i hung on to it eventually taking it to the tip ( a sad day ). got 5 bags of sharp sand hidden behind the shrubs that drive the wife mad, been there ages. I know when i come to use em the bags will fall apart. Whats the point of an empty shed?

[Tony McC]

I think the manufacturers reckon on a 6 week lifespan (ideally), so you should be able to add 50% to that to allow for their profit imperative.

I've seen powdery cement in unopened bags that is well over a year old, but when you make it up as a mortar or concrete, you can tell it's past its best. Just because it doesn't look perished, doesn't mean it's fit for purpose. Anything more than 10 weeks old that's been out in the frost really should be considered as hardcore only.