Concrete Cure Time?

[clonestocker]

How long should I let my footers,stem wall and slab cure before starting to start framing? thanks guys matt

 

[Shiftless]

Are you just going to be walking around or are you driving a fork lift or other equipment into the space?

 

[BigGarage]

How long should I let my footers,stem wall and slab cure before starting to start framing? thanks guys matt

Are you just going to be walking around or are you driving a fork lift or other equipment into the space?

Of course, as Shifty notes it depends on what you will be doing with it.

Concrete gains strength as it ages, up to a certain point. To start framing I would wait at least 21 days and ideally even longer.

Dennis

 

[Shiftless]

I forgot to caution about temperature. You didn’t state where you are located. Cold temperatures retard the chemical processes involved in curing and hardening. (Gaining strength as BigGarage said)

 

[matt_i]

Ideally you'd wet cure the slab for 28 days or have used a curing sealer just after the pour.

Guessing neither of those are taking place, if no heavy equipment there's no reason to wait around. I wouldn't dump a big pile of timber on the corner of it but just people walking around wouldn't worry me at all. Avoid striking the concrete with a hammer.

 

[u2slow]

Start building. Just keep the heavy equipment off it for a bit.

On residential concrete high-rises they pour the next floor every 4-5 days.

 

[BillK]

I started framing mine a couple of days after everything was poured. Heck, when we did our driveway a few years ago I probably used it within a week at most.

 

[ConCretin]

Concrete typically gains 70% percent of it's design strength in 7 days. So what does that really mean? Well most specifications on commercial jobs require 70% of design strength before erecting structural steel or removing shoring under suspended slabs. That is a pretty high bar compared to standing up a few walls. I'd give it three days and then get to work.

 

[Firebrick43]

Concrete typically gains 70% percent of it's design strength in 7 days. So what does that really mean? Well most specifications on commercial jobs require 70% of design strength before erecting structural steel or removing shoring under suspended slabs. That is a pretty high bar compared to standing up a few walls. I'd give it three days and then get to work.

IF and it’s a big IF it’s cured correctly and most of it’s not. Once water moisture has evaporated ***completely*** and hydration stops, then there will be no more strength. This is why very high strength concrete items are cured under water. If cured incorrectly it could have as little as half it’s design strength, for eternity.

Water cure your slabs for 7 days minimum.

 

[JoeMcGov]

Concrete typically gains 70% percent of it's design strength in 7 days. So what does that really mean? Well most specifications on commercial jobs require 70% of design strength before erecting structural steel or removing shoring under suspended slabs. That is a pretty high bar compared to standing up a few walls. I'd give it three days and then get to work.

This right here ^^^^.

 

[hellrzr]

The Iowa DOT standard time is 7 days on the PCC they pour. As stated above, depending on the temperatures it's usually at strength in 3-5 days but without making cylinders and having them tested than 7 day waiting period is standard. In the hot part of the summer we may have a 9" roadway hit strength in just over 24 hours but in the colder seasons it can take a good 3 days.

For what you are doing you should be good to start construction after 3 days I would think. I'm not a building expert though, I just know the standards that we use on DOT jobs for signal footings, bike trails, roadway, sidewalks, and driveways.

 

[WNYflyer]

Concrete typically gains 70% percent of it's design strength in 7 days. So what does that really mean? Well most specifications on commercial jobs require 70% of design strength before erecting structural steel or removing shoring under suspended slabs. That is a pretty high bar compared to standing up a few walls. I'd give it three days and then get to work.

This right here ^^^^.

Agreed,

For stick built construction I agree with 3 days then start framing. Now I wouldn't be drilling/tightening anchor bolts, etc, Nor would I be back-filling basement walls at 3 days but I am assuming this is just a garage foundation.

See attached picture for a typical % of 28-day strength versus days curve for different days of appropriate moist curing procedures . As you can see moist curing a minimum of 7 days with proper procedures is typically required to get you on the path to 100% strength. The graph is very general in nature and subject to change depending on many variables but gives you a general idea for a reasonable exposed temperature range.

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