The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
Curing is defined as providing adequate moisture, temperature and time to allow cement to hydrate and concrete to develop internal strength and abrasion resistance. Properly cured concrete should be the goal for all concrete, not just polished. There are different types of curing. These include: Wet cure involves a uniform […]
Concrete is one of the most durable building materials on the market. However, there are many factors that come into play when maximizing concrete’s strength and longevity. In fact, the steps taken after pouring the concrete have just as much impact on its durability as the concrete mix design and […]
In a recent conversation with Todd Scharich, decorative concrete technical specialist with the American Society of Concrete Contractors, this question came up: What happens when plastic, lumber or construction debris is left on colored concrete during initial curing?
Curing is an integral part of the concrete placement process. When portland cement and water mix, they activate a process called “hydration.”
Sealers and coatings, for the most part, go through the same phases as they dry and/or cure. Before explaining these phases, it is important to know that while all sealers and coatings dry, some also cure as they dry.
When I entered the concrete countertop industry after 25 years in the architectural precast industry, I had a hard time understanding some of the practices in use. There seemed to be a lot of misinformation surrounding the how and why of mix designs when it came to concrete countertops. Some […]
