Concrete floor modification in salige pit curing time?

[hubbahubba]

I have had to modify a silage pit floor and it's basically been extended wider by 8 feet. We have put 8 inches of concrete in it yesterday and going by the way the grass has grown I am going to be getting desperate to get it in. Can i go in a week or will it not be set? Really don't want to damage it but it will need to go in.

 

[vinnie123]

Wants left a few weeks ideally, some would say a week/inch!

The answer you really need to hear is “crack on! It’ll be grand”

Go for it

 

[Albo]

When we did ours we were told two weeks minimum.

 

[Grouse]

I have been looking for the same information re a shed. The advice repeatedly given is that concrete reaches 75% of its strength in the first week - the remaining strength takes a further 3 weeks.

I.e, to reach full strength takes 28 days. After a week if you go gently you should therefore be ok as it will be at 75% strength

 

[RWG Contracts]

I have had to modify a silage pit floor and it's basically been extended wider by 8 feet. We have put 8 inches of concrete in it yesterday and going by the way the grass has grown I am going to be getting desperate to get it in. Can i go in a week or will it not be set? Really don't want to damage it but it will need to go in.

You should leave it 28 days. If you can’t wait 28 days, at least 2 weeks, silage isn’t good for concrete

 

[Badshot]

Is there a sealer that could be painted on to protect it from the silage? I expect strength wise it'll be fine, but could imagine the silage effluent eating into. It.

 

[RWG Contracts]

Is there a sealer that could be painted on to protect it from the silage? I expect strength wise it'll be fine, but could imagine the silage effluent eating into. It.

I spray cure hard onto it, provides a bit of a barrier

 

[Tarw Coch]

Is there a sealer that could be painted on to protect it from the silage? I expect strength wise it'll be fine, but could imagine the silage effluent eating into. It.

I agree silage effluent would be bad for it, it’s not good on any concrete over time, but with the weather as it is there’s a very good chance that silage could be produced without effluent.

My thoughts to the OP if he really has to get on would be to try and make sure the grass is dry enough that there will be no effluent and as it sounds like it’s a strip up the side try to keep all tractors, trailers off it as the grass will be a more even pressure than wheels running over it.

I offer no guarantees on this advice of course but I’m sure the concrete will look fine next year, wether any long term damage will be done I haven’t a clue, however the worst thing for concrete in silage pits always seems to be effluent, so that’s the stuff to avoid.

 

[RWG Contracts]

I agree silage effluent would be bad for it, it’s not good on any concrete over time, but with the weather as it is there’s a very good chance that silage could be produced without effluent.

My thoughts to the OP if he really has to get on would be to try and make sure the grass is dry enough that there will be no effluent and as it sounds like it’s a strip up the side try to keep all tractors, trailers off it as the grass will be a more even pressure than wheels running over it.

I offer no guarantees on this advice of course but I’m sure the concrete will look fine next year, wether any long term damage will be done I haven’t a clue, however the worst thing for concrete in silage pits always seems to be effluent, so that’s the stuff to avoid.

Silage itself is bad for concrete without effluent. Silage is very acidic and concrete an very high alkaline (or the other way round) so the silage eats the concrete. Fill it to soon, with or without effluent, and the surface will be weakened

 

[Tarw Coch]

Silage itself is bad for concrete without effluent. Silage is very acidic and concrete an very high alkaline (or the other way round) so the silage eats the concrete. Fill it to soon, with or without effluent, and the surface will be weakened

Fair enough, I’m sure you know more about concrete that me.

Whilst on the subject of acidity, I’m sure I heard somewhere that concrete made with fly ash? Is more resistant to acidity than concrete made with all cement.

An additional thought, if acidity is part of the problem and I’m right thinking it’s a narrow strip up the side how about a longer side sheet across the new floor, it’s going to be a right pain come winter of course.

 

[hubbahubba]

Yes it's just a tractor width strip up the side. The contractors that laid it said it would be ok in a week to put silage on it but try not to drive over it I.e tip onto it and drive buckrake tractor onto silage.

My plan was to bring side sheets down off walls and over fresh concrete. Will just be a bugger trying to lift this when taking silage out.

 

[hubbahubba]

Fair enough, I’m sure you know more about concrete that me.

Whilst on the subject of acidity, I’m sure I heard somewhere that concrete made with fly ash? Is more resistant to acidity than concrete made with all cement.

An additional thought, if acidity is part of the problem and I’m right thinking it’s a narrow strip up the side how about a longer side sheet across the new floor, it’s going to be a right pain come winter of course.

You just bet me to it with that last sentence...?

 

[davidroberts30]

Yes it's just a tractor width strip up the side. The contractors that laid it said it would be ok in a week to put silage on it but try not to drive over it I.e tip onto it and drive buckrake tractor onto silage.

My plan was to bring side sheets down off walls and over fresh concrete. Will just be a bugger trying to lift this when taking silage out.

You cant leave the strip and cover it next cut?

 

[RWG Contracts]

Fair enough, I’m sure you know more about concrete that me.

Whilst on the subject of acidity, I’m sure I heard somewhere that concrete made with fly ash? Is more resistant to acidity than concrete made with all cement.

An additional thought, if acidity is part of the problem and I’m right thinking it’s a narrow strip up the side how about a longer side sheet across the new floor, it’s going to be a right pain come winter of course.

I’m not sure but I’ll find out