Concrete forms can be removed 24-48 hours after the concrete has been poured and finished. The use of water curing and curing compounds are two ways to ensure that a fresh concrete slab retains enough moisture to achieve its desired strength and durability. Concrete curing can take seven days to reach 70% of its strength.
Water curing involves keeping the concrete surface moist, so it does not dry out before the concrete has adequately cured. Water curing leads to stronger concrete but requires more steps than using a curing compound.
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- Do not begin wet curing your concrete until after the surface water evaporates from the top of the slab. This can take about an hour.
- Cover the slab with a light-colored fabric sheet of burlap or cotton. Make sure all the concrete is covered.
- Use a hose or sprinkler to soak the surface of the fabric. Do not soak the fabric enough to form puddles.
- Spread a plastic sheet over the fabric to lock in the moisture and encourage curing. Secure the plastic at the corners to keep it from blowing away.
- Rewet the fabric once a day for seven days. If you have no plastic sheet, rewet the fabric whenever it dries out, which can be more than once a day.
- Remove the fabric after seven days and allow the concrete to dry normally.
Curing compounds are soluble emulsions that ensure that the concrete retains moisture long enough to cure.
- Wait until the surface water on the fresh concrete has evaporated from the top of the slab.
- Apply an even layer of the compound across the entire surface with a paint roller or sprayer.
- Allow the compound seven days to cure.
- Depending on the brand, you may need to remove the compound residue with a wire brush.
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Curing is most effective at temperatures above 50 degrees, so spring and summer can be the best times of year to pour concrete. If temperatures drop below 50 degrees, consider covering the slab in concrete insulating blankets to keep the curing process from slowing down or stopping.
Pro Tip: When wet-curing concrete, pre-soak new fabric with clean water to prevent solvents or contaminants from staining concrete. Make sure the fabric has been thoroughly rinsed before covering your concrete surface.
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