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- No matter what curing method you choose for your concrete slab, begin by trying to maintain optimal conditions so the slab is protected during the process. Block wind, if possible, because the concrete may dry too quickly if exposed to persistent wind. Shield the slab from sunlight, since heat can also make the concrete dry too fast. If the weather is dry when you plan to cure your slab, run a humidifier to keep the concrete appropriately moist. However, if it is very hot and humid when you are curing the slab, it may help to set fans around the concrete (at a distance of several feet) to keep the concrete cool and not too wet as it cures.
- One of the easiest ways to cure concrete is to use a curing compound spray. After the slab has been properly finished and is protected from wind and sun, spray the surface with the compound. Be sure that the concrete is not bleeding and that there are no beads of water on the surface when the compound is applied. The compound forms a liquid membrane that does not stop moisture from leaving the concrete but slows the process. Allow the slab to cure for at least seven days after spraying before you begin building on it.
- To wet cure a concrete slab, cover the surface with cotton rugs or burlap pieces that have been soaked with a sprinkler or hose. Overlap the fabric so moisture reaches the concrete at all points, and weigh the fabric down to prevent wind from reaching the concrete. You can use bricks to hold the fabric in place, but make sure that they are on the edges of the material that overlaps the concrete surface to prevent indentations in the concrete. Re-wet the materials on the slab continuously to make sure they don't dry out. Damp straw can be used to cover a concrete slab, but it may blow away and can catch fire if it dries out in the sun. Keep the wet materials on the slab for at least seven days to allow for proper curing.
- A concrete slab can also be cured by covering it to make a waterproof seal. Use dark plastic sheets if you are curing in temperatures below 60 degrees, and use white reflective plastic sheets if the temperature is above 85 degrees. For temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees, you can use a clear plastic sheet for curing. Waterproof kraft paper may also be used to cover the slab so water cannot escape. Make sure that the plastic is touching the entire surface of the concrete and is completely smoothed out--wrinkles can cause indentations in the concrete. Seal the plastic around the slab with waterproof tape, and weigh down the plastic so that wind cannot get beneath it. Leave the plastic on the slab for at least seven days. You can also use plastic sheets in conjunction with wet curing by laying the plastic over wet burlap to keep the moisture in the concrete.
Protect the Slab
Curing Compound Spray
Wet Cure
Cover Slab
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