Curing Concrete Plastic Sheeting

This covering locks in moisture and helps the curing process.

Curing concrete plastic sheeting.

Pigmented polyethylene sheeting provides a good curing medium as it is impervious to moisture light in weight and can be re used under good conditions. Curing concrete with plastic sheeting requires covering all exposed areas of the concrete as soon as. Use light or transparent plastic for temperatures above 60 f 16 c. One of the most effective materials to guard against rain is plastic sheeting visqueen.

Two common types of membrane curing are. Sometimes concrete work is carried out in some inaccessible difficult or far off places. Water is mixed into concrete to activate the cement binding agent and as the mix dries it hardens. In cold weather plastic clad concrete curing blankets are often used to protect the surface from snow and insulate the concrete from freezing.

Either polyethylene sheeting that s at least 4mm thick or a concrete curing insulating blanket both available from diy stores are good for this task. Curing compounds are chemical products usually sprayed directly over the concrete. A plastic polyethylene covering retains moisture in the concrete and improves temperature control. You may have seen fresh concrete covered with plastic while it is curing.

The use of waterproof building papers or plastic film polyethylene sheeting will also prevent the evaporation of moisture from concrete. It is easy to drape over complex shapes and the progress of curing and condition of the concrete can be checked easily at any time. Use dark colored plastic for temperatures below 60 f 16 c to absorb more sunlight. Wet the concrete thoroughly and then cover it.

The drying or curing should be gradual otherwise cracking may occur. Plastic sheeting also has the advantage of flexibility. The curing concrete with plastic sheeting after a short spell of water curing for one or two days is sometimes beneficial. Curing concrete with plastic sheeting requires covering all exposed areas of the concrete as soon as possible without damaging the concrete finish.

If the concrete is completely covered with plastic no outside moisture can penetrate to contact the slab. When plastic sheeting is used over flat surfaces such as pavements or slabs it should extend beyond the edges of the slab by a length of at least twice the thickness of the slab. To achieve proper hydration at the concrete surface contractors will mist or soak the concrete surface or cover the slab with soaked burlap coated paper plastic sheeting or synthetic fiber plastic backed blankets. It is a common misconception that concrete cures by drying out like a pie crust that hardens as it.

Cover all the fabric and don t let any parts stick out. For this reason concrete could be effectively covered with a plastic sheet so that it seals the evaporation of water from concrete. Covering the curing concrete with plastic keeps it cleaner but there is a more important purpose behind this practice.