How long should I wait before drilling into concrete footing?
Question:Poured a 20" deep 10" diameter concrete footing yesterday afternoon and need to to bore a 1/2" hole in the top center to install a bolt (Hilti self locking, no epoxy needed). Can I drill it today or should I let it cure longer? How long?
Also, do I really have to keep that footing wet for 24 hours to cure properly? I already blew that one. Is it important on this small of a pour?
Answers:
You should be good to drill now. Might want to wait a day or two to install the anchor.
The fact that you did not keep it wet should not be a major problem. It would not hurt to dampen it now, as it will continue to cure for some time, depending upon how hot and dry it is where you are.
I would wait a few more days, You can end up chiping the concerte. Now if you are drillin somewhere in the center not near the edge of the foundation, then I think you are ok to drill.
I would wait a couple of days before drilling simple to allow the concrete to dry out a little and avoid having your drill jammed with wet dust. But don't put in the bolt before the concrete is at least 28 days old as before then it has not achieved it's proper strenght. drilling early avoids drilling into hardened concrete and saves you a lot of effort
To set a J bolt or a lag bolt I would give it a week, three days minimum, but only if the hole is less than 4" , anything deeper give it time to set.
Look at it this way, rush putting a bolt in and risk loosing the entire footer. Yes it matters. three days is an almost rule from Roman Colosseum days.
a day or two is fine for a half inch hole in a footing that big. im still working on the other answer about wet dust? an oxymoron i guess.
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