February 02nd, 2022
How to Cure Concrete in Hot Weather?
My contracting business recently relocated to the South. Concrete finishers here tell me if a slab is poured outside on a hot day, it won’t cure unless it’s kept wet. Once the concrete has hardened to a point where the top layer won’t wash away, they spray it periodically with water from a hose or by setting up a lawn sprinkler. Do we really need this? Can we achieve the same result with a set retarder?
To begin with, setting retarders doesn’t help concrete cure in the first place. Concrete simply sets more slowly, resulting in an increased level of curing difficulty. Concrete requires water to hydrate the cement so that it can reach its full strength. Concrete that has dried out becomes soft, almost chalky in extreme cases. It is most commonly found on slabs. Even a moment’s drying will weaken it.
Temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed all play a major role in how quickly concrete will dry. Due to this, concrete must cure within 24 hours if it is hot, dry, and windy.
The key is either to keep the water from evaporating or to add enough water to compensate for it. Concrete tends to have quite a bit of water when it is placed. Evaporation can be prevented by using curing blankets, plastic sheeting, or membrane-forming curing compounds sprayed on. Evaporation must not be too high for the cure compound to be effective.
However, water curing is the best method of curing concrete. Pounded water, sprayed water, and misted water can be applied to a surface. Concrete contractors often soak the burlap in water to keep it wet. The temperature and mix determine how long it must be wet-you want the surface to be sufficiently strong. Type I cement usually lasts about 7 days-less in warmer weather.
When concrete is very young, I always tell people that it grows up to be responsible and strong if you keep it warm and wet. Don’t pay attention and you’ll live with your issue child for years to come.
A concrete contractor is an essential part of any building project. You may have to hire one if you create a new building or if you want to renovate the one you already have. A cLos Angeles Concrete Contractor can do the work of concrete pouring, concrete forming and concrete finishing. Any of those steps will involve working with concrete.