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Concrete Curing Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I use some sort of curing method on my new concrete?
A: Curing new concrete aids in water retention in the concrete. The longer the concrete has moisture content in the early stages of development, the stronger it will become. Studies have shown that moist curing in concrete can show as much as 50% increase in compressive strength than concrete left open to the elements.
Q: What sort of curing method is best?
A: There are several different ways to help concrete during its curing process. Placing wet burlap over the newly poured concrete is a popular choice, but is very labor intensive, messy, and needs to be monitored closely to ensure that the burlap remains moist.
Curing Compounds that form a membrane over the surface of the concrete to retain water are also available, but often require some sort of mechanical or chemical method of removal before a sealer can be applied after 28 days.
There are solutions that act as a curing compound that also have sealing aspects. A lot of these compounds cause some sort of unattractive yellowing and/or glossy finish to the concrete, which is undesirable. Also, a large percentage of these products are solvent based. Any solvent-based material will have a presence of VOC/VOS (volatile organic compound/substance), which is harmful to the applicator and the environment. Typically, these sealers do not have very good longevity and only protect the surface of the concrete.
XtremeCureT, which has absolutely no VOC/VOS, is applied with a pump-up sprayer as soon as the concrete can be walked on without disturbing the surface. This provides protection to the concrete at the earliest stage possible that lasts for the entire life of the concrete. Nothing else is required other than regular concrete maintenance/cleaning.
Q: How does XtremeCureT protect my concrete?
A: XtremeCureT actually protects your concrete two different ways. The first part, an integral sealer, penetrates through a capillary structure in the concrete, similar to the capillary system in our body. It uses the water in the concrete, along with the water in the product to continue hydration of the cement, but at an accelerated rate. A reaction also occurs between the cement and XtremeCure to form an impervious gel inside the capillary structure, stopping any ingress of water or other contaminants. This gel is formed throughout the entire concrete slab/wall/structure, protecting it on all sides.
A topical sealer is also left on the surface to further protect from any de-icing salts (chloride ions) or material that could possibly stain the concrete. This will alleviate a majority of, if not all, any surface scaling problems.
Q: Why is XtremeCureT best for my concrete?
A: XtremeCureT uses a proprietary solution to provide two different forms of protection, an integral and topical sealer, in a single application. The integral sealer lasts the entire life span of the concrete, which means it never has to be re-applied. The topical sealer has proven longevity of at least 5 years under abrasive traffic. If an area shows signs of wear, the topical sealer (ExtremeShieldT), is available separately and can be applied in a very thin and efficient manner in the necessary areas.
If you have any additional questions, please email support@in2crete.com
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