Outdoor Build
Concrete Cures by Staying Wet, Not by Drying Out
Concrete gains strength through hydration, so drying it fast is the fastest way to weaken it — up to 50% strength lost in extreme cases.
Cement and water react to form the crystalline structure that binds the aggregate. That reaction continues for weeks and stops wherever the water leaves. Surface water lost to sun and wind in the first days halts hydration exactly where wear happens.
Keeping a slab damp — plastic sheeting, wet hessian, or a curing compound — for seven days is the single cheapest improvement available to a DIY pour. Strength at 28 days is the usual benchmark, but the first week decides most of it.
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