1. Where to buy
  2. Contact Us
  3. 0203 598 9800
  4. mail@steintec.co.uk

Cold Weather Working

As temperatures start to drop it's worth starting to think about how you can keep your paving plans on track.

Here are a few simple Winter working guidelines for those using Steintec's tuffbau products.

Steintec’s all-natural range of high-performance mortars and its unique bedding aggregate blend contain no polymers or admixtures, making them all well-suited to winter working.

tuffbed 2-pack and tuffgrit aggregate blend, tuffbed pre-mixed bedding mortar, tuffbond adhesive priming mortar, tufftop slurry grouting mortar, tuffset G high-performance multi-purpose bedding and repair mortar, and tuffset 60 repair mortar, can all be used successfully in cold weather -- as long as the following guidelines are followed:

Temperature

DO NOT lay bedding or joint paving if the temperature is below 3°C on a falling thermometer, or below 2°C on a rising thermometer. At 3°C, mortars take longer to harden and start to cure, although final performance is unaffected. tuffset G used at 3°C, should be allowed to harden for six hours (instead of three hours at 20°C) before being opened to traffic.

Frozen materials

All materials must be protected from temperatures below 2°C for at least 24 hours before use, and a heated store for bagged material and paving is recommended. DO NOT use frozen materials. If a heated tent is provided, cover the working area in order to maintain an increased ambient temperature. All materials should be stored within the heated space long enough to reach and maintain a temperature of 2°C or above.

Frozen Roadbase

DO NOT lay on a roadbase surface which has not been protected from temperatures below 2°C for at least 24 hours.

Protect against frost

If tuffset G is being used, be sure that three hours will elapse between using the mortar and the onset of frost. Where freshly-laid bedding or jointing is at risk from overnight frost, be sure to protect them with a thermal blanket -- for at least 24 hours. Cold water All water used for mixing mortar must be at a temperature of 2°C or higher.

Weather forecasting

Use weather forecasts, local knowledge and good judgement to avoid starting

Download Documents