What is curing?

Let’s talk about the curing process. There is a language within the building game referring to new concrete as ‘green’. This means the concrete has just been freshly laid and the most vulnerable. What you do next will help reduce any future cracking by allowing the concrete to cure properly.

Firstly it needs to be pointed out that certain ground types can cause some cracking in the surface of the concrete, especially when clay is present. Clay expands and contracts rapidly depending on the weather conditions which in turn causes ground movement. However most causes of cracking are simply the moisture within the curing time escaping faster than it should, so below are some recommendations to help avoid this from happening.

To cure your concrete effectively means to slow the whole drying process down, to retain moisture in the slab will gain strength and delay shrinkage until the concrete is strong enough to resist shrinkage cracking.

It is very important to keep your concrete wet, this is the most effective curing method for preventing moisture evaporation.

We recommend doing this with your garden hose. Adjust your hose nozzle to a shower-type setting and just allow the water gently to cover your freshly laid concrete. Depending on the time of year will determine how many times a day you do this.

For example, in summer, we recommend you do this first thing in the morning before the heat of the day begins, then just before midday and again in the afternoon. Once dark, give it another shower before you go to bed.

We recommend you apply this method at least 5 to 7 days after the concrete has been laid. You could do this by setting up a sprinkler hose on top of your concrete and just turn the tap on.