Cold-Weather Concrete Prep in Burns, Oregon
In progress. We'll update this with the finished work.
Last updated: October 15, 2026.
- Work
- General construction
- Location
- Burns, Oregon
- Timeline
- About 2 months, start to finish
- Scope
- Demolition of an old pump house, excavation, and site prep for new footings
- Project size
- $50k-$100k
The job
This project started with demolishing an old pump house in Burns. The old concrete was cut out and the site was excavated and compacted to prepare it for new footings.
The problem
The concrete delivery ran late. In Eastern Oregon in the fall, that matters. Ground that freezes before the pour can heave and settle unevenly under a footing.
What we did
We covered the compacted excavation with insulated concrete blankets to hold in heat and keep the ground from freezing until the concrete could be poured.
Common Questions
Can you pour concrete in cold weather in Oregon?
Yes, with protection. The ground and the fresh concrete both have to be kept from freezing. Blankets, heat and timing are the usual tools.
What are concrete blankets?
Insulated covers laid over the ground or fresh concrete to hold in heat.
What happens if the concrete delivery is late?
The site has to stay ready. On this job, that meant keeping the excavation covered so the ground didn't freeze while we waited.