How Do You Time Concrete Slab Curing?
Even a small slab of concrete requires a water treatment to strengthen its surface. This process, called curing, compensates for the water lost from the concrete due to evaporation. Curing ensures that your concrete will attain its maximum hardness in the first few weeks after you pour it. Pile up soil and build dams around the outside of your concrete. According to Concrete Network, this will hold in water and keep wet concrete from seeping outside its borders. Buy a curing membrane. This is a plastic sheet that retains water and minimizes evaporation. It also may keep water from freezing in cold temperatures. Buy a curing compound. The combination of a compound and water can prove more effective as a strength enhancer than water alone. Cure concrete for at least three days. Eighty percent of all hardening occurs during this initial period. Cure for seven days if the concrete will support a lot of weight. According to Concrete Network, concrete cured for a week is 50 percent stronger
