Concrete Going off`

[CraigyCraigo]

Hi All,

Quick one hopefully!

Concreted some slabs in on end this afternoon as a fascia to a shed base.

Its give rain all night and the concrete has just started going off. The concrete is going to be covered with soil once cured.

Is it best to cover it now to give the trench from flooding and affecting the concrete or will the soil stop it going off???

Any helps appreciated......... shall need to don on the overalls again and fill the trench in if that's best tonight lol

cheers

Craig

 

[Harbo]

If the concrete is beginning to set and formed a crust then the water will not damage it - in fact it will help to cure it.

Rod

 

[CraigyCraigo]

Cheers for your prompt response rod....... saved me a job! the crust has formed indeed and has the slabs solid....... just didn't want to waste a weekends work lol

 

[Vic Perrin]

If the concrete is beginning to set and formed a crust then the water will not damage it - in fact it will help to cure it.

Rod

Yes Rod is spot on about the rain helping to cure the concrete.

 

[CraigyCraigo]

cheers guys! That's a relief!!!

 

[andersonec]

Concrete curing is a chemical reaction and will not have any adverse effects by being covered, water or rain will run off and wash the outer layers off and expose the aggregate (unless it is ponded)
Keeping concrete covered in hot weather with damp hessian etc, with an air gap, will stop the drying out / dehydration of the water content happening too quickly and interrupting the curing process (cracks) any way of stopping the water from drying out is beneficial hence covering with soil will help and give better and more controlled curing.

Andy