Curing Of Concrete Methods: 6 Successful Techniques

Curing takes place after the concrete has been placed and is used to protect the moisture content and hydration levels of the concrete as it sets. This process is essential for preventing cracking and ensuring that the concrete reaches its maximum strength and specified properties. There are many different curing of concrete methods that can be used to ensure the final product reaches its optimum characteristics, whatever the style of construction project. These are just a few of the main curing of concrete methods that are used regularly in the construction industry. 

Shading

This is a simple but effective method that involves preventing the exposure of the concrete surface to sunlight by creating a canvas shield. The aim of this process is to  prevent the water content from evaporating. This is essential for protecting the concrete from heat, direct sunlight, wind and rain. Shading is also important in cold climates as it prevents the concrete from freezing in mild frost conditions.

Ponding

Another one of the most common curing of concrete methods that you’ll hear about is ponding. This involves covering the surface with moist hessian or canvas wraps for 24 hours. Next, the covers are removed and the area is divided into a number of ‘ponds’ using clay or sand. Water is then filled between these a few times a day, depending on the conditions. This is an effective method for keeping the concrete hydrated, and is most commonly used for floors, pavements and slabs.

Sprinkling

Sprinkling can be one of the most labour intensive curing of concrete methods as it requires the surface to be kept continually hydrated by continuously sprinkling water. Specialist nozzles are used for this, and on smaller construction jobs, the process of sprinkling is usually done by hand. Before sprinkling is applied, the concrete needs to be left to set sufficiently. This method is mostly used for curing slabs. 

Membrane

This method requires less water than other methods, and falls under the category of ‘moist curing’. For this, a waterproof membrane or concrete curing compound is used to cover the surface in order to protect the concrete from water loss. The concrete curing compound used may be found in solid or liquid form, such as bitumen emulsion, wax or rubber latex emulsion. This method can be less effective than other curing of concrete methods as the rate of hydration is less, however a big advantage is that it does not require as much supervision or water as ‘wet curing’. 

Steam

One of the quickest curing of concrete methods, steaming involves increasing the temperature of the concrete under steam conditions. This method can be used for pre-cast concrete constructions and enables the concrete to develop its strength very rapidly. It’s important to ensure that the temperature is controlled closely in order to prevent non-uniformity or cracking caused by rapid drying and curing. 

Covering

Last but certainly not least, another one of the most popular curing of concrete methods involves covering the exposed surface with hessian, canvas or gunny bags. These covers are then wetted to ensure the surface is kept hydrated and not left to dry out. How regularly the covers need to be wetted will depend on the rate at which the moisture is evaporating. This method is very popular for curing structural concrete. 

If you require concrete for a construction project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experienced team at Al Manaratain. Thanks to our two fully-computerised batching plants, we can produce ready-mix concrete to suit your individual specifications. Our other concrete products include pavers, pre-cast slabs and blocks, all produced under our strict quality control conditions to ensure our exceptional standards are never compromised. Give us a call or send us a message to find out more.