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non-slip, beautiful concrete finishes for pool decks

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non-slip, beautiful concrete finishes for pool decks

Answers To Two Common Questions About Concrete Curing

by Bessie Armstrong

In order to end up with an attractive appearance and long-lasting stability, a concrete surface must be properly cured. Yet few outside of the concrete industry understand how the curing process works. If you have plans to install a new concrete surface on your property, and would like to learn more about curing, read on. This article will answer two commonly asked questions.

Why is concrete curing so important?

Curing is one of the most essential facets of the concrete installation process. Unless properly cured, a concrete surface will end up being way too weak. Strong concrete depends on the formation of crystals inside of the concrete mass. These crystals act as a binding substance, helping to hold together the sand and gravel.

Crystal formation is dependent on the presence of water. When an appropriate water level is maintained, a reaction known as hydration takes place between the water and the Portland cement in the concrete mix. This, in turn, causes crystals to grow. If the concrete is not adequately hydrated during the curing process, the crystal structures will be inadequate, and the resulting concrete will be much more prone to failure down the line.

Curing also helps the concrete resist the development of so-called shrinkage cracks. You see, as poured concrete settles, water tends to bleed upward to the surface. If this water evaporates at a greater speed than it rises from the concrete, the result is shrinkage cracks. Curing helps to even out the relationship between the bleed rate and the evaporation rate, thus preventing the formation of unwanted cracks.   

How is curing accomplished?

There are two principal methods of curing concrete. The oldest and most effective of these is water curing. Water curing involves the application of water to the concrete surface. This can be accomplished either through flooding the surface, or by setting up misters that dispense a steady stream of water vapor. A concrete surface that is water cured for one week will end up being stronger than uncured concrete by a whopping 50%.

Plastic sheet curing takes a different approach to the curing process. As its name would imply, this involves the overlay of a thin sheet of plastic on the concrete surface. Rather than adding more water, this technique cures the concrete by preventing the evaporation of water. Though effective in this aim, plastic sheet curing can cause problems due to its tendency to retain more solar energy, thus increasing the temperature of the concrete.

For more tips about pouring concrete and letting it cure properly, contact a company like Pumptex Concrete Pumping.

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