Concrete is considered one of the most sought after building products because of its strength, durability and attractiveness. This also makes it one of the more expensive construction materials to use so it’s important to make sure you are getting the best finish.
Where a lot of concrete installations will go wrong is the curing process. It may take up to twenty eight days for concrete to fully harden so here are four tips below to ensure your get the best return on your investment.
Apart from curing, maintenance may be needed to strengthen some of the concrete. Concrete sealer is one of the common material applied to protect its surface to avoid staining, damage, and corrosion. It’s important to consider this process for longer and stronger concrete roads.
Water Your Concrete
A very common misconception is to let the concrete dry however; it’s more beneficial to water your concrete because it allows the moisture to evaporate. This might be something that a concrete contractor might no tell you.
It has also been determined that a moist cured concrete can be up to fifty percent stronger than a non-moistening treatment. You should water it often even up to ten times a day for the first week. Just be aware of the temperature, it’s not recommended to moisten the concrete during colder temperatures.
Avoid The Cold Weather
The ideal to pour concrete is when the average temperature is above fifty degrees for the next week. If you are working with a concrete company in the northern parts of the US during the fall or spring, this will be tough to accomplish.
To best way to increase your chances of the curing process going well in the colder temperatures is to make sure the concrete gets heat. Keeping the concrete warm will help avoid slowing down the chemical reaction for it to strengthen.
When the temperatures drop you can cover it with insulating blankets or even household blankets to help trap the heat. You can also buy a polyethylene sheeting from your local DIY store, which will also help trap the heat in and keep it contained.
Avoid Any Painting Or Staining In the First Month
When you concrete has completed the pour, you might be eager to start staining and get it finished but it’s important to hold off. The paint or stain that’s applied while it’s curing can negatively impact the moisture by changing the chemical compounds.
At the begging of the article we mentioned that it could take up to twenty-eight days for concrete to cure, this is because the water needs to be completely dried out. Since the moisture is rising to the surface, it will start to push back the stain or paint causing it to peel away or break the bond.
Paint or stain will only be successful depending on how well it adheres, so you want to make sure the concrete is completely dried so that you get the best results.
Use A Curing Compound
Whether you are doing the project your self or using a concrete contractor, you should look into and make sure a concrete compound is being used. This is especially important if you are going up against other factors such as inclement weather or do not have the ability to keep it moist.
You can find a compound at your local hardware store or concrete mixing company. The compound will help because it will provide a protective film to prevent the water from evaporating and will let it cure at a consistent rate. Make sure you check the process for which compound you choose, some dissolve into the concrete and others will require scrubbing it off once the concrete has hardened.
Don’t Put Much Weight On It
After your local concrete contractor has completed the project, you will probably want to start using the new space. Make sure to avoid putting anything with an excessive amount of weight on the concrete.
Once its completely hardened, there is still a chance there could be damage to it especially within the first four weeks. A good measure is to not walk on the concrete after twenty four hours once it’s poured.
If its your driveway you want to avoid driving on it for at least ten days to make sure it can start to bare the weight. For larger vehicles like RV’s and heavy trucks you will want to wait at least twenty eight days since they are much heavier.