Curing keeps concrete, plaster or block masonry moist after it is placed, so the cement keeps reacting with water and the material gains strength and durability. Concrete that dries out too early can end up weaker, more porous and prone to cracks.
Common methods are ponding water on slabs, wet hessian or gunny bags on columns and beams, regular spraying, plastic sheets, and curing compounds. Curing should start as soon as the surface can take it without damage. Vertical surfaces and slabs exposed to sun and wind need extra attention because they dry fastest.
How long to cure depends on the cement type, the weather and the element, so follow the duration in your specification or the applicable code. On site, the real risk is not knowing the rule but making sure curing actually happens every day, which a DPR entry and photos can confirm.
Quality & inspection in CivilPilot
Checklist templates, scheduled inspections and approvals, so quality is recorded instead of remembered.
