The reading I have done suggests slab strength is increased if the slab is kept wet for a week after it is poured. Has anybody done this? What is the best way to do it? I will not be able to be home for a week to watch it. Sprinklers (on all the time or every so often?) Burlap soaked with water a couple of times a day? Something else? Thanks.
Slab Curing
- Thread starter mshedb
- Start date
IDASHO
Well-known member
Avoid sprinklers. They can drill holes int the surface over very long periods.
If the slab will be in direct sunlight, and you cannot babysit it, you need to wet it good and toss a concrete blanket over it. That will keep it moist for a few days.
We use concrete blankets around here a LOT. Mainly for curing slabs in the winter, but also for slowing the cure time in the summer.
We have a dozen or so blankets in our rental dept. at work, check around your area at building supply outfits. You should be able to find one.
If the slab will be in direct sunlight, and you cannot babysit it, you need to wet it good and toss a concrete blanket over it. That will keep it moist for a few days.
We use concrete blankets around here a LOT. Mainly for curing slabs in the winter, but also for slowing the cure time in the summer.
We have a dozen or so blankets in our rental dept. at work, check around your area at building supply outfits. You should be able to find one.
twostory
Well-known member
I poured my slab inside of the stem wall. I designed the building so the stem wall would be 3.5 inches higher than the slab. So after the slab pour, I just made a wooden dam where the garage door is. I then wet the slab with a hose slowly running for 7 days. I also covered the slab in plastic to slow the evaporation of water down. My slab is level, so the water just sits there.
I used several thousand gallons of water, but the water cost is nothing compared to the concrete cost, so I did not worry about that.
--------------------------------------------------------
I read this on the www.concretenetwork.com:
"Allow The Time to Water Cure
After concrete is placed, the concrete increases in strength very quickly for a period of 3-7 days. Concrete which is moist cured for 7 days is about 50% stronger than uncured concrete.
Water curing can be done after the slab pour by building dams with soil around the house and flooding the slab. The enclosed area is continually flooded with water. Ideally, the slab could be water cured for 7 days. Some builders on a tight schedule water cure for 3 days as this achieves approximately 80% of the benefit of water curing for 7 days.
Consider planning your job to pour at the end of the week, build berms, then flood over the weekend. You get the benefit of water curing without losing too much time in the schedule."
goodluck...
I used several thousand gallons of water, but the water cost is nothing compared to the concrete cost, so I did not worry about that.
--------------------------------------------------------
I read this on the www.concretenetwork.com:
"Allow The Time to Water Cure
After concrete is placed, the concrete increases in strength very quickly for a period of 3-7 days. Concrete which is moist cured for 7 days is about 50% stronger than uncured concrete.
Water curing can be done after the slab pour by building dams with soil around the house and flooding the slab. The enclosed area is continually flooded with water. Ideally, the slab could be water cured for 7 days. Some builders on a tight schedule water cure for 3 days as this achieves approximately 80% of the benefit of water curing for 7 days.
Consider planning your job to pour at the end of the week, build berms, then flood over the weekend. You get the benefit of water curing without losing too much time in the schedule."
goodluck...
This is what I've seen done in bridge construction. After the slab cures enough that it can be walked on without leaving footprints, a layer of burlap is placed over the slab and hoses with little holes in it a laid down and the water left to run constantly. You might want to try soaker hoses. You can leave them running 24/7 and the ammount of water they use is just enough to keep the slab damp. Good luck!