You can’t always avoid cold joints in concrete, particularly in renovation work where things have to proceed incrementally. Here’s an easy way to make a quick dam in your forms, even in places with lousy access.
Wedge pieces of 1 -in. rigid insulation into the forms like a row of books, as shown in the drawing. It’s easy to cut channels in the foam for the protruding rebar, and the pieces will come out fairly easily once the pour has set up. Make sure to stagger the edges of the foam pieces to form a keyway for the next pour.
—Jim Ramsay, Kelownia, None
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #24
