It's finally finished! Your new concrete driveway, patio or pool is poured and the work crew has cleaned up and is driving away. Nothing to do now but sit back and enjoy it, right? Wrong! Two simple but important procedures, curing and sealing, still need to be done to ensure years of trouble free enjoyment and use of your new concrete addition.
Curing is the procedure by which you ensure that your concrete continues to gain its desirable properties. Sealing will protect your concrete from surface contamination.
To properly cure your concrete you need to keep the top surface continuously wet for at least 3 days and preferably 7 days. The surface can be kept wet in a number of different ways. Some of the most common methods of curing are: using sprinklers or soaker hoses to continuously apply water, apply wet burlap over the surface and wet down periodically, or cover with plastic to keep the surface water in. Curing is a procedure very easily performed by the homeowner although the contractor may be a good source of ideas for the best curing procedure to use.
Not curing the concrete can lead to: lower ultimate strength, lowered durability, more cracking, larger cracks forming, and higher chances of salt damage. Almost all concrete defects that can occur are more likely to occur to concrete that is not cured. Curing should be started immediately after the final finishing stage is completed.
Sealing concrete entails applying a liquid concrete sealer to the finished surface. This sealer can be applied either with a roller or by using a simple garden sprayer. There are many sealers available on the market that will give different final finishes. Most hardware or concrete supply stores will have a selection of sealers. Your concrete finisher would likely be willing to do this job for you. With a few suggestions from your supplier, it is an easy task for the homeowner to accomplish.
Concrete is inherently a porous material, which is susceptible to staining from liquids seeping into the surface. It can also be attacked by harsh chemicals such as oils, antifreeze, or even drinks seeping into the porous surface. Sealing your concrete does essentially what it sounds like, that is, it seals the surface. Thus by sealing, the concrete can be protected from attack or staining.
Sealing should be performed several weeks after curing has finished and after several days of dry weather to allow the concrete to dry.
Curing is one of the most critical steps in the concrete finishing process and also the step most commonly missed.
Through proper curing and sealing, in conjunction with other correct concrete practices, you can ensure that your beautiful concrete job of today stays that way for years to come.
BC READY-MIXED CONCRETE ASSOCIATION
26162 – 30A Avenue, Aldergrove, BC, V4W 2W5
Ph: 604-626-4141 Fx: 604-626-4143 Em: info@bcrmca.bc.ca
