San Ramon Cement Drying
Fresh concrete will normally take at least a day or two to dry. It will typically dry for about 24 to 48 hours more or less, and it will be hard enough for you to use it as a walkway or even as a driveway for your car. However, to ensure that it is fully dry, always remember that it is a continuing process, and will take roughly a month or about 28 days for the concrete to fully reach its maximum strength. To know more about how long does concrete take to dry, or concrete drying times, you must understand that contractors have trained hard just to come up with the best ways to provide you with ways on how to work with concrete faster and efficiently.
Contact San Ramon Concrete and Masonry for more information about San Ramon cement and concrete drying at (925) 350-8087.
The number of days or hours for your concrete to dry will also depend on several conditions. However, when we ask how long it takes for concrete to completely cure, technically, it does not. Every day, it hardens a bit more. This is mainly due to the function of cement particles reacting with water or moisture it is mixed with. As the cement incorporates water molecules, it becomes harder. The presence of moisture will always be there; thus, even when you achieve that maximum strength, as most of us, though, the concrete will still become slightly harder each day. The concrete drying times will actually vary for different reasons and conditions.
Factors Affecting Concrete Drying Time
Weather Conditions
If you are in a hotter climate where humidity is high, moisture will evaporate faster than colder areas. However, exposing it to extreme heat or even in humid conditions will also have a negative effect on your concrete. You can see this on roads and driveways where concrete is protected from the sun's heat, and water is used to prevent it from expanding so much while the concrete is still on its curing process. If you pour concrete when the weather is below freezing, you will end up having sludge or a concrete mix that will not harden totally.
Moisture
The presence of water or moisture also has an effect on the cement drying time. We all know that when cement interacts with water, a curing process will take place. Lesser water means faster curing time, and this is due to the lesser bonds to make, but it will also result in weaker concrete even when it is totally cured. Having so much moisture, on the other hand, will take a longer time to cure, and flaking may even occur on top of the concrete because of having too much water. Well experienced contractors know the right mix and how to make your concrete really strong and effective.
Use of Additives
Nowadays, contractors rely greatly on concrete to cure and harden faster. They add mixes and additives to concrete just to speed things up. This practice accelerates your cement drying time. However, it may be an added cost to property owners or to the contractors themselves. And while this can help a lot, your concrete may not be as strong as your normally cured concrete.
Thickness of Concrete
If you have to say 4 inches of fresh concrete being poured in on your driveway, it will take about 2 days of cement drying time, to make it hard dry for you to use it. But the thicker your concrete is, the longer it will take for it to be really dry and at its full strength.
Aside from knowing concrete drying times, it is also best to have an idea of how concrete works and how contractors should treat concrete. It will allow you to have the upper hand and know if you have the right contractor. So, here are some of the usual questions that contractors usually encounter.
Best Time to Water Your Concrete
Although it is ideal for contractors to pour concrete during hot days or during the summer when the sun is at its peak, certain precautionary things have to be taken to prevent any negative results while waiting for your concrete to cure. After you have poured fresh concrete to the ground, a concrete drying time of about two days has to be followed. You can immediately start watering your concrete in the morning and at noon when the sun is at its hottest. Not watering your cement may cause it to expand, crack, and its structural integrity compromised.
How Long Does Concrete Take to Dry Before You Can Brush It
Expert cement technicians can tell when the right time is. Brushing the concrete too early, and it will be weak, but if you comb it a bit late, it will be hard, and texture may not be achieved. Seasoned contractors usually do this when the concrete is a bit soft, but only after the bleed water has already dissolved. The contractor of your choice should be adept in knowing the concrete drying time and should be able to know when to brush your concrete.
To know more how long does concrete takes to dry, it best to ask a reliable and trusted contractor. Reach San Ramon Concrete and Masonry at (925) 350-8087.
