What Is Curing of Concrete?
Concrete must undergo a “curing” phase after being put since it doesn’t attain its full strength right away.
To put it simply, you shouldn’t put any weight on it until it has fully healed.
How long does concrete take to cure?
Although concrete never completely stops curing and typically gets stronger over time, 9Yard Concrete Contractors recommends a 28-day curing period for most concrete mixes in order to attain a practical strength.
The concrete should have gained around three-quarters of its compressive strength after about a week, but we suggest you to wait to put weight on it until the recommended curing time has elapsed (28 days).
It is strongly advised to follow best practices because placing weight on the concrete before it has had the necessary amount of drying time could cause damage to your work.
What Factors Can Affect The Curing of Concrete?
The length of time it takes for concrete to reach its maximum compressive strength can depend on a number of elements, such as:
Hydration of Concrete
Typically, moisture plays a major role in the curing of concrete. The chemical reaction between water molecules and cement will continue by maintaining moisture content (hydration).
Concrete will continue to get stronger as long as hydration continues. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain moisture levels during the curing process. On the other hand, excessive water can weaken concrete, thus we advise seeking professional counsel in this case.
Hot Or Dry Weather
Given how heavily concrete drying depends on the availability of moisture in the mix, you can see how hot and dry weather conditions may harm your concrete.
Concrete cracking can happen when the climate is excessively hot and dry. In these instances, we advise building a shelter and maintaining concrete moisture to counteract the effects of the hot, arid weather.
Freezing Cold Weather
Any weather extremes can have a negative impact on concrete curing, therefore naturally freezing circumstances can also have negative effects if concrete is poured during the colder winter months (cold weather can also cause concrete to crack).
We normally advise choosing days for concrete pours in winter that won’t reach freezing point in the first 24 to 48 hours, but we also recognize that there are factors beyond your control.
There are a few things you can do if you find yourself pouring concrete in cold weather, such as building a shelter and insulating the concrete to keep forms in place for as long as possible so that heat is dispersed uniformly.