How to properly water a concrete screed in cold weather so that it gains maximum strength
Freshly laid concrete needs to be looked after - covered with foil and sprinkled with water. Everyone knows that. But not everyone knows how often and how much water must be poured onto the screed so that it does not harm the structure. We will talk about how to properly care for concrete. But we will touch on a topic that is relevant for the current season, when screeds are mainly poured indoors. That is, in conditions where there is no heat and scorching sun.
Why care for freshly poured concrete?
Concrete does not dry, but matures. And for the full flow of this process, there must be enough moisture in it. Concrete curing time - 28 days from the moment of pouring. In the first 14 days, it gains 80% strength. And in order for this process to take place as efficiently as possible, the concrete structure must be provided with sufficient moisture in the first two weeks. If this is not done, cracks can form in the concrete, which will lead to loss of strength, destruction and subsidence of the structure.
How to properly care for a flooded screed in cold weather?
It will be about concrete, poured in a room at a temperature of 8-15 degrees Celsius. This usually happens at facilities without heating, where concrete work is performed (screeds, stairs, etc.) during the cold season.
Screed maintenance consists of two operations:
- shelter with plastic wrap;
- periodic wetting of concrete.
Algorithm for the care of freshly laid concrete:
- Cover the screed with cellophane film 15–20 hours after pouring the concrete. Make sure that there are no breaks in the shelter through which moisture can evaporate.
- When three days have passed from the moment of pouring, abundantly, but at the same time evenly pour the screed at the rate of 1.5 liters of water per 1 square meter of surface. Cover the screed with plastic immediately after spilling.
- After another three days, pour concrete again with the same amount of water - 1.5 liters per 1 sq. meter. Cover the screed again with plastic wrap. After re-wetting, the film can only be removed from the concrete after 7 days!
When using this technology, the correct maturation of concrete and maximum strength will be achieved, and there will be no cracks in the structure.