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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:50 pm
by Sporty333
Hi guys
I am building a garden wall at the front of the house. It's only going to be 14 inches from the footings. It's going to support some flag stones as a little path.
I laid the footing this morning. The depth of those were 6 inches deep.
Question: how long before the footings are safe from frost damage! I hear cold weather is forecast this weekend.
Can I get away with a single skin wall for this project?
Do any bricks underground have to be engineering bricks?
I appreciate any advice on this one guys.
Cheers
Simon
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:42 pm
by seanandruby
Just cover the concrete overnight you'll be fine as regards frost once it's dry about 24 hours.
Yes a single skin will be ok at that depth.
Engineerig bricks, or concrete blocks below ground yes.
Good luck.
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:04 pm
by lutonlagerlout
^^ agree with the above, they need to be f1 or f2 bricks if underground and single skin
personally I always go for 9 inch work on anything like that
belt and braces
cover the concrete with hessian or a blanket
LLL
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:16 pm
by Sporty333
Thanks guys. Glad I only have to attempt single skin brick work! Lol
Another little teaser is the ground is sloping so at one end it may well be 2 engineering brick below ground but at the other end the bricks will be exposed. What should I do considering this?
What is the reason to cover the footing with a blanket? No frost forecast for tonight I don't think.....
Many thanks
Si
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 8:55 am
by seanandruby
Sporty333 wrote:Question: how long before the footings are safe from frost damage! I hear cold weather is forecast this weekend.
Cheers
Simon
That's why we said to cover because of your forecast ???
Just step the brick work up ( rake it back ) where you need to.
Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 7:00 pm
by Sporty333
Thanks Sean. The footings look to be fine as they are. Hard now so I presume I'm out the shit now 
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 3:28 pm
by lutonlagerlout
assuming you live in the UK anything below 4 degrees can affect mortar and concrete
never take the chance this time of year,just cover it and it is insulated
LLL
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 4:30 pm
by Sporty333
Too late now! 
surely it should be ok now it's hard?
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:34 pm
by seanandruby
Yes it will be fine don't worry.
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:42 pm
by Sporty333
I'm trying not to 
what happens to concrete then when its exposed to low temps?
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 7:22 pm
by seanandruby
Just mixed concrete is wet, so it freezes and expands making the concrete useless. Concrete needs to be done with the temperature 5degrees and rising. There are additives but can work out expensive.
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 8:04 pm
by Sporty333
Oh yes, of course! I forgot about that. So until it's totally dried out there concrete will fail? Mine will fail then as it's been around 0 degrees hasn't it. It looks to be ok on the surface tho....
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:02 pm
by lutonlagerlout
sorry I meant that if you do the brickwork make sure and cover it
the current temperatures will noise it up otherwise
LLL
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:59 pm
by seanandruby
If it's dry it's ok. Wouldn't worry to much with foundattions, if it was structural or a slab etc; i would be more concerned. Build your wall and cover as LLL suggests if low temp'. Remember 5 and rising.
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:23 am
by Sporty333
Thanks guys. I won't be building the little wall for a while yet. Gonna let the footings dry out, plus I have to locate some suitable bricks first.
Thus jobs a really brain tester wgat with the falls and levels! Lol
what happens to concrete then when its exposed to low temps?