How to Speed Up Curing of Pre-Cast Concrete

Whether you are pouring a new driveway or making concrete pavers for your patio, if you have limited time to complete the project you can speed up the curing of pre-cast concrete. Curing is the process that strengthens the concrete by controlling the moisture content immediately after pouring and controlling the temperature in which the concrete sets. You can obtain pre-cast concrete with accelerators added into the mix during manufacturing to speed up curing. Alternatively, you can control the speed of the curing process by controlling the water in the mix and the ambient temperature.

Container
Portland Cement
Shovel
Water
Plastic sheeting

Instructions

- 1
  Moisten the inside of the container you plan to mix the Portland Cement and water. You can use a wheelbarrow for large projects or a plastic bucket for smaller projects.
- 2
  Pour the concrete mix into the container. Move the mix with a shovel to make well in the middle of the mix.
- 3
  Fill the well with about three-fourths the amount of water the directions on the bag of mix calls for. Mix together with the shovel. You want to lower the water-to-cement ratio to make the concrete.
- 4
  Add 1 cup of water at a time if some of the mix remains dry. Incorporate together again with the shovel until you have a watery mix half an inch around the perimeter of the container and the center of the mix is a thicker texture.
- 5
  Pour the concrete into the mold. Whether you’re creating stepping stones or slabs, you will have a mold lined out where you will pour the concrete.
- 6
  Spray the concrete with water from the hose. You need this water to help the curing process.
- 7
  Cover the concrete with plastic sheeting for 24 hours, rather than the up to 48 hours you would normally let the concrete cure. This helps increase the temperature as well as retain the required moisture content to quickly cure the pre-cast concrete.

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Paving