How Long Does Concrete Take To Cure?
The length of time that your concrete will take to cure will depend on several different factors.
- How strong the concrete is required to be
- What proportions have been used in the mixture
- The size and shape of the area being concreted
- What type of weather conditions the concrete will be exposed to
- What conditions the concrete will be required to endure
Factoring all of this, curing takes in excessive of a week to achieve a state where it has achieved 70% of its compressive strength. At this point you can start to build on the concrete. By 28 days, your concrete should be fully cured.
Where the concrete mixtures differ, or temperatures are lower, curing can take up to two weeks.
What Temperature Does Concrete Cure At?
Concrete slabs that you would likely find being used on pavements, driveways, flooring, and in parking lots will, as well as structural concrete as found in columns, beams, and retaining walls, will need to be maintained at a minimum ambient temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) in order to cure.
Temperatures will impact the speed that the concrete cures at, and colder temperatures will slow down the process. Where there is a risk of frost and ice during the curing process, it is essential to insulate the foundations using a concrete blanket.
What Happens If It Rains While Concrete Is Being Cured?
You may be concerned about weather conditions while your concrete is curing. Of course, rain is not something that you can prevent. So, if it does rain within the first four hours of your concrete being poured, you will need to protect it. Check the weather forecast before starting as showers can occur on the sunniest of days. Build a protective cover for your concrete so that in the event of rain during these crucial first few hours, nothing will be lost.
