Old timer told me to wet cure for 14 days. Said I was wasting my time.

Guy named Jerry at the job site in Phoenix. I figured 3 days of wet burlap was enough. Slab cracked right down the middle on day 10. Jerry didn't say I told you so. Just handed me a hose. Learned my lesson the hard way. Anyone else skip the cure and regret it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_beth1mo ago

Jerry's got that old school patience that's hard to find anymore. I see the same thing with people and their dogs at my shop. Everyone wants a shortcut to a good result. Fast cure, fast training, fast everything. But some things just take time. You rush the process, you pay for it later. Every single time.

ramirez.sage1mo ago

Oh man, 3 days of wet burlap is basically nothing for a slab that thick. I made the same mistake on a driveway pour last year. Thought I was smarter than the old heads and did 5 days. Cracked right by the control joint on day 12. Jerry's method of 14 days sounds tedious but concrete needs time to hydrate properly or it just shrinks too fast. Now I do the full 14 with wet blankets and plastic on top, no shortcuts. Jerry was right all along.