Cover concrete with plastic?

[JackOfDiamonds]

My wife had a new sidewalk section poured, and I didn't do my research ahead of time.

They poured it today, and it's over 100 degrees outside and it's not covered or anything.

Am I supposed to keep the surface wet? What about cover it with plastic?

 

[jack stand]

Wet it occasionally until you go to bed. Plastic can leave marks depending on how far along your concrete is. Burlap with a small flow of water across it is what I'm familiar with, not sure if this is done today with all the chemicals available.
Someone that's a concrete professional should be along here but the clock is running.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I decided to spray it with the hose a little bit after checking that it was sorta hard.

In this sun, I pretty much soak it down and it's starting to turn grey/dry again in 20 minutes or so. Do I need to have one of my kids keep it moist constantly or just re-wet it every couple hours? Is it bad to let it dry and then re-wet it?

 

[jack stand]

I would say just wet it every hour or so. I do know that a slower curing is desired, but don't know what the (possible) consequences are. It's just a sidewalk and I'm sure overthinking and worrying is probably just something we have to do .

 

[marak]

If no sealer applied then you will want to keep it wet. If fresh concrete dries out too much then hydration (curing) will stop. For a sidewalk, this is not the end of the world. After hosing it down, I like to place 6-mil polyethylene sheeting on top of the concrete and keep the surface of the concrete saturated to wet. Consider keeping the surface wet for 3 to 6 days. Make sure the poly sheeting lays flat as wrinkles can cause discoloration, if I recall correctly.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

How big is the section? You said sidewalk … not a structural element. Minimum psi is probably more than enough. Did they cut an6 control joints?

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

Just some short sidewalk sections, like 3 squares worth.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Just some short sidewalk sections, like 3 squares worth.

That’s what i thought. If it had been a structural slab i bet they would have covered it, for a sidewalk patch it didn’t matter.

 

[rburke65]

Can you define 3 “squares” worth.

 

[brownbagg]

My wife had a new sidewalk section poured, and I didn't do my research ahead of time.

They poured it today, and it's over 100 degrees outside and it's not covered or anything.

Am I supposed to keep the surface wet? What about cover it with plastic?

yes

 

[nadogail]

When I lived in Spain we would spread Sand on a new slab and moisten it for a few days, after which the sand was used for the mix when we laid the structural tile and plastered the walls.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Can you define 3 “squares” worth.

Seriously? Have you not seen sidewalk cracks before?