Short answer
Concrete can be poured on a hot Georgia day, and we pour all summer, but the crew has to work around it: an early start, a mix with a set retarder where needed, no water sprinkled on the surface to ease finishing, and curing started immediately. NRMCA's hot-weather guidance says high temperature, low humidity and wind speed up evaporation from fresh concrete and cause plastic shrinkage cracks. Here is how we handle each of those.
| Main risk | Plastic shrinkage cracks from fast evaporation[1] |
|---|---|
| What speeds evaporation | High air and concrete temperature, low humidity, wind[1] |
| Never do this | Sprinkle water on the surface to make finishing easier[1] |
| Ideal curing temperature | 50–85°F[2] |
| Days at 90°F+ in Atlanta | about 54 a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fulton Co. Airport) |
What hot weather does to a pour
NRMCA lists the problems: faster slump loss and setting, a shorter window to place and finish, more water demand, and plastic shrinkage cracking when the surface dries faster than bleed water rises. Strength can also end up lower if the crew adds water on site to keep the mix workable. The combination that matters is high temperature plus low humidity plus wind, so a hot, still, humid Georgia morning is easier than a hot, dry, breezy afternoon.
What we do about it
- Schedules the pour early in the day and avoids finishing in the hottest hours.
- Dampens the subgrade and forms so they don't pull water out of the mix.
- Orders a mix with a set-retarding admixture when the day calls for it, instead of adding water on site.
- Uses sunshades, windbreaks, fogging or an evaporation retarder on dry, windy days.
- Starts curing immediately after finishing: wet coverings, plastic sheeting or a curing compound.
What your estimate tells you
- What time will the truck arrive, and how long will finishing take?
- Will the mix include a retarder, and who decides on the day?
- How will the slab be cured, and for how many days?
- What happens if an afternoon storm arrives before the surface has set?
Every city page shows how many days a year reach 90°F locally. For the colder end of the calendar, read pouring in cold weather, and for what happens after the pour, curing times.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too hot to pour concrete in July?
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Not for us. We pour early in the morning, dampen the subgrade, use retarders and evaporation retarders where needed, and start curing right after finishing. The plan for your specific day is on the estimate.
Why did my new patio crack in a pattern of short lines?
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Short, random surface cracks that appear within hours are typical plastic shrinkage cracks: the surface dried faster than the bleed water could replace it. They are mostly cosmetic but avoidable with the precautions NRMCA describes.
Does hot weather make concrete cure faster?
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It makes it set faster, which is not the same thing. Fast setting leaves less time to finish and raises the cracking risk; curing (keeping the concrete moist) still needs several days.
Sources
- [1]National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, CIP 12: Hot Weather Concreting (checked October 30, 2026)
- [2]ConcreteNetwork.com, Curing Concrete (updated May 6, 2025)
- [3]American Concrete Institute, What is curing? (checked October 6, 2026)
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on size, access, site preparation and local labor rates in Georgia. Our free on-site estimate is the price for your site.
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