Cure Concrete

What happens in this clip

Proper curing is essential for the strength and durability of concrete. There are two main methods. Option 1: Water Curing. For a minimum of 3 to 5 days, keep the freshly placed concrete moist by applying a fine water mist with a garden hose or sprayer. This helps slow down the drying process and allows the concrete to achieve maximum strength. Option 2: Chemical Curing/Sealing. Alternatively, immediately after finishing, apply Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure & Seal. This product can be applied with a roller, garden sprayer, or a brush. It eliminates the need for water curing, provides a semi-gloss sheen, and helps repel water, oil, grease, gasoline, and food stains, protecting the concrete surface.

Goal: Ensure proper hydration for strength and durability

What's used

Tools

• Garden Hose
• Roller
• Paintbrush

Materials

• Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure & Seal Quikrete
• Water

About the full video

This project provides a detailed guide on how to pour and finish concrete slabs for various outdoor applications like sidewalks, patios, or floors. It covers essential steps from preparing the sub-base and setting up forms, to pouring, leveling, floating, broom finishing, cutting control joints, edging, and finally, proper curing techniques to ensure a durable and aesthetically pleasing concrete surface.

Step 9 of 10: Cure the Concrete

Keep the concrete moist for at least 3 to 7 days after pouring. You can achieve this by covering it with plastic sheeting, burlap bags kept constantly wet, or by periodically misting the surface with water. Proper curing is critical for the concrete to reach its designed strength and durability.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Pour a Concrete Landing Pad for Deck Stairs

1. Step 1: Excavate Area

   • 13:17–15:33 Prepare Stair Base and Pour Concrete Pad
   • 0:04–0:15 Site Preparation and Trench Digging
   • 4:20–8:36 Prepare & Pour Concrete Pad

2. Step 2: Install Formwork

   • 2:04–2:33 Build and Position Concrete Form
   • 0:33–0:47 Formwork Installation
   • 0:00–0:34 Lay Out and Assemble Initial Form Boards

3. Step 3: Add and Compact Gravel Base

   • 2:21–2:33 Add & Compact Basecourse
   • 3:15–4:05 Lay and Compact Gravel Base
   • 0:20–0:38 Prepare Gravel Base

4. Step 4: Place Rebar or Wire Mesh

   • 2:45–3:06 Add Steel Reinforcement (Rebar)
   • 1:30–1:40 Add Wire Mesh Reinforcement
   • 5:41–6:46 Rebar Placement for Reinforcement

5. Step 5: Mix and Pour Concrete

   • 0:30–0:42 Pour and Level Concrete
   • 3:10–3:41 Pour and Screed Concrete
   • 1:58–2:31 Mix and Pour Concrete

6. Step 6: Screed the Concrete

   • 0:04–0:13 Screed the Concrete
   • 0:24–1:01 Screed the Concrete Surface
   • 0:17–0:45 Screed the Concrete Surface

7. Step 7: Float the Concrete

   • 0:16–0:25 Float the Concrete Surface
   • 0:44–0:46 Hand Float Concrete Surface
   • 1:15–1:29 Float Concrete

8. Step 8: Finish the Concrete

   • 0:07–0:11 Trowel for Smooth Concrete Finish
   • 10:04–11:22 Final Troweling and Finishing
   • 3:30–4:49 Concrete Floating and Troweling

9. Step 9: Cure the Concrete

   • 2:08–2:39 Cure Concrete (this video)
   • 0:57–0:59 Cure Concrete and Remove Forms
   • 5:50–6:12 Cure the Concrete

10. Step 10: Remove Formwork

    • 8:43–10:04 Remove Form and Backfill
    • 4:03–4:08 Remove Formwork
    • 0:52–0:54 Remove Formwork