Concrete in hot weather?
Question:What is curing concrete? What does it do? And what will happen to my new (very new) concrete if I do not cure it?
Answers:
Here's link that explains in detail hot weather concreting. Long story short, concrete cures as the moisture leaves, meaning that concrete becomes harder and harder over time. Hot weather will "cure" the concrete too quickly and lead to weakness, cracking and other problems. Covering and misting with water are some of the methods to slow the cure and help increase concrete strength.
http://www.westrocinc.com/tips/hot_weath...
concrete "cures " as the chemical reaction between the cement and water takes place for best results keep damp for first 24hrs after finishing concrete reaches approx 90% after 24hrs and continues curing for years. also special care should be taken if placed in tempertures over 90 degrees (adding ice or retardent) to mix concrete will crack due to uneven curing or hardening if not cured slowly for the first day or so
It's cures on it's on. Takes 28 days, but you can start using it in a few days if its a driveway, next day if it's a sidewalk.
It takes 28 days to reach maximum strength, but some believe it takes 35 years to maximun cure.
After that, the concrete starts going the other way and deteriorating.
As stated by previous answers, concrete needs to be cured within the first 24hrs, if you miss this time period then forget it. Concrete will crack etc by too much moisture evaporating to quickly. In Australia we are in the middle of a severe drought so it is not possible to cure with water. I use a product called Moisture Fix. This product penetrates into the matrix of the concrete and locks up all of the moisture giving a perfect cure that will stop cracking, dusting and associated problems of curing. It will also, at the same time waterproof the concrete. It will greatly reduce the time for a complete cure and stop any concrete cancer leaving you with a concrete that will outlast any other. Further information may be found at the web site below, under Moisture Fix. Hope this is of some help
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