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Started By
Message
Concrete slab curing time
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:06 am
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:06 am
I'm about to pour a 44x30 slab with 18" footings (4" everywhere else). How should I help the curing along and how long before I can start framing?
I've read about covering with plastic and keeping wet, but also that just leaving the forms up for several days is enough.
I've read about covering with plastic and keeping wet, but also that just leaving the forms up for several days is enough.
This post was edited on 7/8/15 at 8:09 am
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:12 am to Sigma
Wreck the forms tomorrow, saw cut it today if you have a green saw, tomorrow if you have a regular saw, and start framing.
Eta remember the drier you pour it the harder it is to work but to wet and it'll take longer to setup
Eta remember the drier you pour it the harder it is to work but to wet and it'll take longer to setup
This post was edited on 7/8/15 at 8:16 am
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:12 am to Sigma
48 hours is fine. Wreck the firms the day after placement and frame the next day.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:16 am to Sigma
So the Portland cement folks are going overboard?
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:17 am to 4LSU2
quote:
48 hours is fine. Wreck the firms the day after placement and frame the next day.
^This, but I wouldn't put any equipment on it just yet (skid steer/bobcat/telehandler). Wait about a week for that.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:18 am to Sigma
Yeah, we pour one day, wreck the next and anything that needs to be built within reason starts that afternoon. I don't recommend putting anything really heavy on it for 5 days but you can start framing if ya want.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:21 am to Agforlife
Ok great. Nothing heavy, just a few guys and some lumber. It'll be my dad and uncle, but just in case I'll make sure wait to feed them after the walls are up.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:32 am to Agforlife
quote:
Eta remember the drier you pour it the harder it is to work but to wet and it'll take longer to setup
However, do not make it too dry. You want the correct mix of water to concrete mix. Also, the concrete should attain a strength of 3000 psi minimum before putting any heavy traffic on it. In my experience, 3000 psi usually is attained at +/- 72 hours (3days) minimum. I break concrete cylinders for a living. If this is going to be your foundation, you want to make sure that it is strong enough to hold the tonnage and not crack.
Ask yourself this. Do you want a structure to go up fast or do you want a structure to last for a long time?
This post was edited on 7/8/15 at 8:43 am
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:38 am to LSU2NO
quote:
However, do not make it too dry.
Yeah that's what I was trying to get across, people think the drier you pour it the faster it sets, which is true to an extent, to wet is always better than to dry just makes for a longer day especially if you gotta slick finish it. I was gonna tell him about calcium carbonate but that would've just screwed him up
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:40 am to Agforlife
quote:
calcium carbonate but that would've just screwed him up
Not really. Chemist here. Whatcha got?
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:43 am to LSU2NO
quote:
I break concrete cylinders for a living.
As do I
We usually look for at least 75% of the mix strength at 7 days... 28 days is when you should be at mix strength. However, normally the concrete is mixed well over the design limit so you will see it pass 3000 psi at 3 days pretty regularly.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:43 am to Sigma
It's to hot to be putting it in the mix unless you have several guys finishing it so just forget about it but a 2% calcium carbonate solution added to the mix will accelerate the curing. Don't do it though because y'all aren't doing this for a living.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:44 am to Sigma
it's something you pay extra for, but don't really get.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:46 am to Agforlife
quote:
Yeah that's what I was trying to get across, people think the drier you pour it the faster it sets, which is true to an extent, to wet is always better than to dry just makes for a longer day especially if you gotta slick finish it. I was gonna tell him about calcium carbonate but that would've just screwed him up
No, not for foundation work. That is best used for roadway patching at night. Plus it is tricky and expensive.
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:48 am to StickyFingaz
quote:
As do I
We usually look for at least 75% of the mix strength at 7 days... 28 days is when you should be at mix strength. However, normally the concrete is mixed well over the design limit so you will see it pass 3000 psi at 3 days pretty regularly.
This post was edited on 7/8/15 at 8:55 am
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:49 am to Agforlife
Yea... Just get you a nice 7" slump (probably order a 5" and have them add water if needed) and go to town. If someone else is working it, I would try to keep the slump 5+/-1.
I'm actually on a job now watching these Mexicans work 3.5" stuff and they are struggling
I'm actually on a job now watching these Mexicans work 3.5" stuff and they are struggling
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:51 am to LSU2NO
I work for a company in Austin... ECS. I've got one more year till I get my stamp. Some days I feel like I will miss field work... Wait, never mind!
This post was edited on 7/8/15 at 8:55 am
Posted on 7/8/15 at 8:52 am to LSU2NO
man, you ought to edit out where you work.
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