Curing Concrete Plastic Sheeting

Spread a plastic sheet over the fabric to lock moisture in.

Curing concrete plastic sheeting.

One of the most effective materials to guard against rain is plastic sheeting visqueen. If the concrete is completely covered with plastic no outside moisture can penetrate to contact the slab. Curing compounds are chemical products usually sprayed directly over the concrete. Covering the curing concrete with plastic keeps it cleaner but there is a more important purpose behind this practice.

Cover all the fabric and don t let any parts stick out. 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. The use of waterproof building papers or plastic film polyethylene sheeting will also prevent the evaporation of moisture from concrete. 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. Wet the concrete thoroughly and then cover it. This covering locks in moisture and helps the curing process. To cure concrete slabs cast on the ground contractors traditionally use aci recommended methods of water wet curing.

Plastic sheeting also has the advantage of flexibility. Sometimes concrete work is carried out in some inaccessible difficult or far off places. A plastic polyethylene covering retains moisture in the concrete and improves temperature control. It is a common misconception that concrete cures by drying out like a pie crust that hardens as it.

You may have seen fresh concrete covered with plastic while it is curing. Use dark colored plastic for temperatures below 60 f 16 c to absorb more sunlight. Should you cover concrete with plastic to help curing. Use light or transparent plastic for temperatures above 60 f 16 c.

Two common types of membrane curing are. Curing concrete with plastic sheeting requires covering all exposed areas of the concrete as soon as. For this reason concrete could be effectively covered with a plastic sheet so that it seals the evaporation of water from concrete. 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 easy to drape over complex shapes and the progress of curing and condition of the concrete can be checked easily at any time. Water is mixed into concrete to activate the cement binding agent and as the mix dries it hardens. 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.