Temperature and

relative humidity:
What they mean for
you and your concrete
countertops
Drying is an important process that must be managed and understood in order
to avoid problems. At certain times drying is to be avoided, whereas at other
times it is necessary. Understanding how temperature, dew point and
humidity levels work together will shed light on how you can manage drying.

Concrete needs to stay moist in order for it to cure. But some sealers need the
concrete to be dry in order for them to cure and stick properly. It’s a delicate
balance. Temperature and humidity levels play a major role in whether
your concrete or sealer cures properly, or whether your concrete stops
curing, develops map cracking (or worse) or if your sealer has bonding
and curing problems.

It’s well known that in hot conditions things dry out fast. So during the
summer months (and for some of us summer temperatures have already
arrived) it’s vital to make sure bare, exposed concrete that’s still curing stays
moist. On the other hand, cold temperatures make it harder to dry things out.
Cold concrete takes much longer to dry out because water does not evaporate
as fast.

I will describe how drying is influenced by temperature, relative humidity

and describe what the dew point is and how it relates to relative humidity.
Drying is also known as evaporation. The rate at which water evaporates
depends upon several factors, including the temperature, relative humidity
and air flow rate. Water evaporates very fast when it’s exposed to hot, dry
fast moving air. Conversely water evaporates very slowly when it’s in cold,
damp still air.

Temperature describes how much energy is available to drive evaporation.

On a warm day more water can evaporate because there is more thermal
energy available to do the work of evaporation. In contrast water has less
available thermal energy to drive evaporation when it is cold out. Hence
drying slows considerably when it’s cold.

Relative humidity is important because the more moisture that’s already in

the air, the lower the rate at which water will evaporate and the less moisture
that the air can hold.
Relative humidity is a measure of the current amount of water vapor in the air
relative to the total amount of water vapor that can exist in the air at its
current temperature, and is expressed as a percentage.

A relative humidity of 100% means the air cannot contain any more water
vapor at that temperature, whereas a relative humidity of 50% means that the
air only has only half as much water vapor as it can hold at the current
temperature.

Dew Point is the air temperature at which the air is saturated with water
vapor. Warm air can “hold” more water than cold air. When air at a given
temperature can’t hold any more water it is fully saturated and is at 100%
relative humidity. The air isn’t holding onto the water vapor. What’s being
described is really the temperature when water vapor levels reach the
saturation point.

Air flow rate is important, because as water evaporates, the layer of air
above the water (or damp concrete) gradually becomes more saturated with
water vapor. When evaporated moisture levels reach saturation drying
essentially stops. Air flow increases the evaporation rate by “flushing” away
the stagnant moist air above the concrete.
The following graph shows the relationship between air temperature, dew
point temperature and relative humidity.
Moist Curing
Concrete needs to remain moist in order for it to cure. Generally the internal
relative humidity needs to be above 80% to 85% relative humidity for
hydration to take place.

Wetting the surface of bare concrete creates a barrier of water that prevents
the moisture from inside the concrete from being drawn out when the surface
moisture evaporates. The film of water on the surface is a relatively large
reservoir that can evaporate without affecting the moisture within the
concrete’s pores. Water on the concrete acts like a buffer.
When concrete is covered in plastic, the air trapped under the plastic quickly
becomes saturated with water vapor. When this happens drying essentially
stops.

When concrete dries out, the suction forces developed when water evaporates
from the pores in the concrete can actually crush weak cement paste. The
longer the concrete remains moist, the greater its strength and the greater the
resistance to the suction forces. This means fewer cracks and less shrinkage
and curling. Longer wet curing also reduces pore size, which means less
moisture is available to evaporate and that the moisture has a harder time
escaping out of the concrete.

Drying
Some sealers need concrete to be dry in order to stick properly. And some
sealers will not cure properly if there is too much moisture in the concrete.

Temperature and relative humidity are important factors to pay attention to so

that your concrete dries to the degree you need it to so that the all-important
sealer performs the way you and your client expect it to.

If your shop is cold (like most shops are in the winter), the evaporation rate is
slower, and because most shops have open sources of water in them (trench
drains, wet grinding areas, etc.), the relative humidity is generally higher than
outdoor conditions. These limit how much drying occurs. If your shop is at
100% relative humidity it doesn’t matter how long you “dry” the concrete. It
won’t lose moisture and dry out because the air surrounding the concrete
can’t hold any more moisture.

Remember: wet concrete doesn’t dry out in small, cold shops with still air.
Hot shops with moving air that has a low relative humidity will cause rapid
drying.
Concrete is one of the most common building materials used in new construction,
particularly for flooring. The material constantly interacts with the environment around it,
so influences such as temperature and humidity affect the moisture levels within it. Just as
water is a vital ingredient when mixing concrete, excessive amounts of it can create
numerous problems. The most common sources of excess moisture in concrete are free
water—too much water in concrete mixture—and moisture rising from below a slab.
Because of the costly issues that may result from excess moisture in concrete construction,
humidity control is an essential preventive and corrective measure.
How High Humidity Affects Concrete

 Increased pH levels: Relative humidity levels directly affect the pH levels in concrete.
For this reason, concrete manufacturers create regional guidelines for installers to follow,
as some areas in the country are drier and have different field pH levels. When relative
humidity levels are high, the moisture increases the concrete’s pH levels. Incidentally,
the interaction compromises the concrete’s integrity and the integrity of any adhesive or
coating materials applied to it.
 Decreased strength: When relative humidity levels increase, the compressive strength of
concrete decreases, affecting its durability.
 Microbial growth: Moisture creates the ideal conditions for the growth of mold, mildew
and bacteria. When mold and bacteria grow and reproduce within concrete, they affect its
strength. At the same time, the organisms may affect the health of the individuals within
the affected area.

Sweating Slab Syndrome

In concrete construction, humidity control can prevent sweating slab syndrome, an event that
occurs when moisture develops on the surface of concrete slabs within a building. In addition to
increasing the moisture levels within the concrete, sweating slab syndrome poses a serious safety
risk to individuals and transport machinery. Not only may individuals slip and fall, the slippery
concrete could prevent machinery with wheels from stopping during transport operations.

Dew point condensation is often the cause of sweating slab syndrome. When warm, humid air
enters a building or structure through vents, windows or doors, it diffuses throughout the
structure and condenses on concrete if the temperature is at or below the dew point. The effect is
similar to condensation forming on a glass that contains a cold beverage.
In some instances, salt deposits on concrete slabs lead to sweating slab syndrome. Salt is
hygroscopic and naturally attracts moisture from the air. When the salt is within concrete, it
holds water molecules within the air. This generally occurs when there is no vapor retarder under
the slab or a lack of proper air circulation. When the concrete sweats because of the salts within
it, salt deposits may remain on the surface. If one does not immediately clean the salt, individuals
or the wheels of material handling equipment could track the salt it to other areas of a property.

Concrete Construction: Humidity Control

Excessive moisture affects concrete the most when there is a lack of air circulation and climate
control. The best preventive measure is to identify and correct humidity problems before the
installation of flooring or surface coatings. After concrete cures, temporary humidity and
temperature solutions will help mitigate moisture problems and its damaging effects. Polygon
provides a variety of custom solutions that create the ideal environmental conditions as concrete
cures and the following adhesives or surface coatings dry. The use of temporary humidity control
measures also create conditions that prevent moisture from forming on the surface of concrete.
To learn more about temporary humidity control solutions, contact a Polygon representative
today.

How to Cure Concrete With Water and

Plastic Membranes
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•••Photo Don Mason / GettyImages

By Juan Rodriguez
Updated August 26, 2018

The concrete curing process involves a reaction between Portland cement and water helping on
releasing heat from the concrete at a desired and controlled rate. Without curing, moisture is lost
too quickly and there isn't enough water necessary for the crystals to grow, resulting in weaker
concrete.

The Importance of Temperature

Concrete should be placed ideally in conditions between 50 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit,
and this temperature must be maintained during concrete curing. If it is too hot or too cold, the
crystal growth process is either curtailed or accelerated, leading to weak results. The proper
curing process is vital to quality, durability, strength, water tightness and resistance to freezing
and thawing.

Traditional Way to Cure Concrete

Curing concrete with water prevents excessive loss of moisture as the water will create a layer
for an extended period of time that can control the evaporation of moisture from the surface.
After some time the concrete will start the chemical reaction that will eventually harden the
concrete.

Even if alternative curing procedures are used, it is desirable that a certain amount of water
curing is done to prevent cracking.

Curing With Water

Water curing can be done using the following techniques:

 Immersion: Immersion curing is usually done during concrete testing when curing
concrete test specimens.
 Ponding: Used to cure flat surfaces on jobs or controlled areas where water can be easily
retained on top of the concrete slab. Sand or earth dikes surround the slab and a layer of
water is maintained on top of the slab.
 Fogging: Fogging or misting is used in circumstances where temperatures are above
freezing and there is low humidity. Fogging raises the humidity above the curing concrete
by spraying a fine mist of water regularly across it to maintain moisture.

 Wet Covering: Curing concrete with wet covering is done after the concrete has
hardened sufficiently and the water covering will not damage concrete’s surface. A
covering is usually sand, burlap, canvas or straw that is kept continuously damp during
the curing process.

Using Plastic Membranes

Curing concrete with a membrane or plastic sheeting is the most practical and efficient way to
cure concrete in today's construction industry—sometimes water is unavailable for water curing
or, if it's done improperly, it can affect the strength or the surface finishing of the concrete
product.
A minimum thickness is required to ensure adequate strength in the sheet; ASTM C 171 Sheet
Materials for curing concrete specifies 0.01 mm. Concrete should be covered with a membrane,
either plastic or chemical compound that will seal off the pores and retard the evaporation of
water from concrete.

Two common types of membrane curing are:

 Plastic Sheeting: Curing concrete with plastic sheeting requires covering all exposed
areas of the concrete as soon as possible without damaging the concrete finish. When
plastic sheeting is used over flat surfaces, such as pavements or slabs, it should extend
beyond the edges of the slab by a length of at least twice the thickness of the slab.
 Membrane-Forming Curing Compounds: Curing compounds are chemical products
usually sprayed directly over the concrete surface and allowing it to dry. The compound
forms an impermeable membrane that retards the loss of moisture from the concrete.

Spray On Compound

The most common process is nowadays to cure concrete is using a curing compound. The
chemical needs to be applied once the concrete is hardened but still was water content on it. If
you wait until all water evaporates, then the curing compound might not produce the best results.
Be sure to use the right sprayer to create a uniform coverage and the right amount of compound
is applied. There are many products that can be used so be sure to read the manufacturer's
application before applying it.

How Soon Do You Need to Start the Process?

Curing concrete is required to allow a transitional and constant evaporation of water from the
concrete mix. So, how soon do you need to start the curing process? It all depends on the
environmental conditions in which the concrete is placed and whether it is placed in between
forms, directly over the ground, submerged in water or in any other specific area or environment
that will affect the concrete curing process.

The best practice is to cure the concrete shortly after the chemical reaction has started that
hardens the concrete. Concrete should not be allowed to dry fast in any situation, and the curing
conditions must be maintained during the first 24 hours or at least until the final setting time of
cement has passed.

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+

PROPERLY CURING CONCRETE SLABS

Why cure concrete. Curing serves two main purposes.
 It retains moisture in the slab so that the concrete continues to gain strength
 It delays drying shrinkage until the concrete is strong enough to resist shrinkage
cracking.

Properly curing concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and wear
resistance.

How to cure concrete.

 Water cure:The concrete is flooded, ponded, or mist sprayed. This is the most
effective curing method for preventing mix water evaporation. Make sure you allow
proper time for water curing.
 Water retaining methods:Use coverings such as sand, canvas, burlap, or straw
that are kept continuously wet. The material used must be kept damp during the curing
period.
 Waterproof paper or plastic film seal:Are applied as soon as the concrete is
hard enough to resist surface damage. Plastic films may cause discoloration of the
concrete-do not apply to concrete where appearance is important.
 Chemical Membranes:The chemical application should be made as soon as the
concrete is finished. Note that curing compounds can effect adherence of resilient
flooring, your flooring contractor and/or chemical membrane manufacturer should be
consulted.

All the desirable properties of concrete are improved by proper curing!

The Cure for The Cure: A Guide to ASTM

C511 and Your Curing Facilities
4

By Casey Soneira, Assistant Laboratory Assessment Program Manager

Posted: April 2014

Introduction

When I was a Quality Analyst at AASHTO re:source, I encountered countless CCRL report findings
regarding curing facilities. Since there seems to be a lot of confusion and misunderstanding
regarding curing facilities and their requirements, I decided to write an article about them. The
intention of this article is to clarify the specifications listed in ASTM C511, Standard Specification for
Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of
Hydraulic Cements and Concretes, and provide tips on achieving conformance to the requirements
of the standard. This article is not an exhaustive account for all mix designs, regional specifications,
or capabilities of each laboratory. Each laboratory will need to consider the unique requirements of
their testing needs when designing and maintaining a curing facility. This article can be utilized as a
general guideline for curing materials that include Portland cement concrete, masonry mortar,
masonry cement, concrete beams, grout, and hydraulic cement (see Table 1).

Table 1

**Tanks used for the last 20 hours prior to breaking do not need to meet ASTM C511
requirements. The requirements for this soaking period are temperature and the use of
calcium hydroxide. No recording thermometer or thermostatic control is required. See ASTM
C31 Section 10.1.3.2. for more information. Tanks compliant with C511 will also meet the
requirements of C31.

Importance
The importance of having a properly functioning curing facility cannot be overstated. Trying to cut
corners on curing can produce erroneous test results. The ability of a lab to properly cure and store
specimens is vitally important to achieving accurate results on compression tests. Dry conditions,
low temperatures, and abundant fresh water (leaching) can all lead to low strength specimens. High
temperatures can lead to falsely high strength.

In addition to curing being an important practice, the AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP)
considers related test methods when changes to the accreditation status of ASTM C511 occur. That
means that deviating from ASTM C511 and not resolving the issue could result in the suspension or
revocation of other associated tests, such as ASTM C31, C39, C78, C109, C780, C1077 (Concrete),
and E329 (Concrete).
Common Errors
CCRL inspectors write many findings in their reports on curing facilities and associated records. It’s
understandable, since there is no one correct way to design and build a curing facility, and since
there’s seemingly an endless pile of records to maintain. Nevertheless, it’s important to make sure
facilities are up to snuff and that you understand the documentation requirements. Curing facilities,
be they tanks or rooms, require lots of documentation.

Some of the most common errors include:

 Failing to evaluate records of weekly temperature data

 Failing to record semi-annual temperature recorder standardizations (every 6 months)
 The inability to control the temperature (lack of heating/cooling mechanisms)
 Incomplete or nonexistent maintenance program

Curing Tanks vs. Moist Rooms

The use of curing facilities is required by several ASTM and AASHTO standards. Depending on the
type of material you are working with, you should refer to the applicable specification or standard to
determine whether you need to maintain tanks or a curing room, or even a tank within a curing room.

If you’ve never seen a curing tank, it’s basically a large, typically oval tank filled with murky lime-
saturated water, and hopefully some concrete samples (See Figure 1). If you’ve never seen a curing
room/moist room (I will be using the terms interchangeably), it looks like a walk-in refrigerator full of
fog. It’s a sealed, usually metal room full of fog and shelves. Curing rooms range in size, and it is
recommended that labs install shelving in a configuration convenient to the size and shape of the
room.

Since there is no specific design framework for tanks or a curing room, it’s up to the lab to configure
their facility based on their resources, preexisting environmental conditions, and the requirements of
the materials being cured. Both curing tanks and moist rooms have their benefits and drawbacks.
Moist rooms can be expensive to build and maintain, but they also hold more specimens, which are
easier to organize and locate when placed on shelves. Curing tanks might be a more cost-effective
solution, but temperature control can be difficult, and they take up a lot of floor space. Tanks also
require additional documentation.

Whichever option you choose, you must be capable of heating or cooling the system, regardless of
your geography, even if the laboratory is located in a region with a fairly consistent climate.

Have you ever wondered which option your competitor is using? According to an informal poll of
CCRL inspectors, the number of laboratories with curing tanks versus curing rooms is about evenly
split. They both seem to be equally popular.
 Figure 1- 3 Separate Tanks
Courtesy of Pennoni Associates Inc. in King of Prussia, PA

Requirements for Curing Tanks

If your lab chooses to use curing tanks alone (not inside a curing room), the following information
should help clarify some of the requirements. Essentially, your tanks need to be made of a non-
corroding material like thick plastic or metal. Fill the tanks with water that has been saturated with
lime (calcium hydroxide, a.k.a. high-calcium hydrated lime), and maintain a temperature from 21.0 –
25.0˚C (69.8 - 77˚F). The temperature of the solution in the tanks must also be monitored.

Tanks are available from typical laboratory suppliers, but also from farm supplies, as they can also
be used as food and water troughs for animals. If you have more than one tank, you have two
options for configuration. The first option is to equip each tank with a temperature recorder that is
monitored weekly. If you decide to go this route, you will need to have at least one calibrated chart
recorder or digital recorder per tank (see Figure 1). Alternatively, you can connect your tanks with
tubing, basically creating one large tank (see Figure 2). If you choose this option, you must make
sure that there is a means of evenly circulating the curing solution throughout all of the tanks. Most
labs that choose this method use a fish pond circulator. Take extra care to ensure that the flow
between the tanks is even. Accidentally draining and overflowing a tank can occur if there is an
equipment malfunction. You must also perform a weekly check of the temperature of each bath to
ensure that the difference in temperature between the tanks does not exceed 1˚C.
 Figure 2 -Connected Tanks
Courtesy of Nelson Testing Laboratories in Elmhurst, IL

Whether you have multiple tanks or just one tank, you must perform routine maintenance. For tank
maintenance, you are required to thoroughly stir each tank at least monthly to replace depleted
calcium ions. At least every 24 months, you must clean and refill each tank with calcium hydroxide to
saturation. You must keep records of these activities, including the date (month/day/year), name of
person responsible, and a record of the action taken.

Requirements for Moist Rooms

If your lab tests a lot of samples or tests a variety of materials, a curing room might be the best
choice for you. There is also the option of using a smaller moist cabinet for specialized projects
rather than building an entire room. Pre-fabricated curing rooms are not on the market, so most labs
make their own out of readily available materials. The size of your room will depend on how much
space is available in your lab and how many samples you plan to store. Moist rooms are made from
walk-in refrigerators, insulated shipping containers, or scratch built rooms. In both moist cabinets
and rooms, care must be taken to ensure air-tight seals on doors and walls. This will significantly
help maintain the temperature and humidity requirements. In both cases, extreme care must be
taken to prevent water from dripping onto the stored specimens, since lime can leach out and lower
the strength.

In order to maintain an extremely humid environment, you must have a good water supply and
humidifying equipment, and the temperature must be maintained at 21.0 – 25.0˚C (69.8 - 77˚F),
aside from brief departures from opening the door. After installing the main room and insulating it,
labs need to install misters onto water lines spaced throughout the room. A common problem with
misters is that they tend to clog. Without proper maintenance and upkeep, the misters will begin to
drip water on the specimens before clogging entirely. The system used in most grocery store
produce sections works very well for this purpose. It is highly recommended that laboratories
institute a program in which the spray nozzles are switched out with a second set that has been
soaking in a mild acid such as vinegar to slow the clogging process. Maintaining two sets of working
spray nozzles will be less time consuming than continuously repairing dripping nozzles, or suffering
the consequences of improperly cured materials.

Figure 3 – Overhead Mister Courtesy of CCRL

Digital vs Chart Recorder

One of the requirements of ASTM C511 is that your curing facility must be monitored by a
temperature recorder. The temperature recorder must be accurate and readable to 1˚C and shall be
capable of recording the temperature at least once every 15 minutes. There are two options to fulfill
this requirement. You may use either a chart recorder or a digital recorder.

More labs currently use chart recorders. Some of the drawbacks include the pen drying out and
having to be replaced often, and the temperature not reading correctly. The benefit of a chart
recorder is that the information is readily available and in full view at all times, and labs that use
these tend not to get written up for not evaluating the weekly temperature data. It is important to
choose temperature charts that are easily read and do not have a scale so small that the pen or
marker line width exceeds the scale lines.

Digital temperature recorders (or data loggers) are gaining popularity. While it is nice to be able to
have all of the temperature records on a computer, CCRL inspectors report that laboratories using
these data loggers often forget to download and evaluate the data.

So How Can I Avoid All of These Issues?

Unless you are a new lab, thinking of rebuilding, or moving to a new building, you probably already
have a curing facility set up. The best way to make sure that you have a well-circulated,
temperature-controlled facility that meets all of the requirements is to take the time and money to get
it right the first time. First, heavily consider the placement of your moist room or tanks. It is best to
have them inside and against an interior wall. If you have to install a moist room against an exterior
wall, try to give at least 6 inches of dead air space. Imagine Arizona’s 110˚F heat or Minnesota’s -
20˚F right up against the wall. It’s going to make your heating/cooling equipment work extra hard and
increase the likelihood of going out of tolerance. Tanks near drafty bay doors will also wreak havoc
on any kind of temperature control you think you have. To help reduce exposed surface area, try
covering the tanks with large pieces of Styrofoam insulation. Take the time to install insulation,
piping, replaceable misters, heating and cooling units, circulators, and temperature recording
devices as applicable. Just like with the very construction projects you are working on, it’s always
more cost-effective to get the job done right the first time, rather than having to tear it up and redo it.
Also consider all the man hours lost to constant maintenance and quick-fixes, not to mention having
to spend time writing corrective action reports for your AASHTO re:source Quality Analyst to review.

Figure 4 - Moist Room on Interior Wall

Courtesy of CCRL

When it comes to keeping records, try adding them in to your regular routines and setting Microsoft
Outlook® or scheduling reminders like you would normally do for other mandatory calibration,
standardization, and maintenance activities.

In the end, remember that no matter how much precision is used to mix your ingredients, your curing
methods will impact the strength of the material you are testing. It’s not just your laboratory that
might be impacted by the results of out-of-spec curing, but the people who drive on the roads and
bridges, and work or learn in the buildings that these materials are used to build.

Special thanks to Jan Prowell and the other employees of CCRL who shared their experiences
evaluating curing facilities and records.

Other Resources

 To Cure or Not to Cure?

 Tests Requiring ASTM C511 Curing Facilities Table
 The Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing

References
 ASTM International, “ASTM C31, Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
Specimens in the Field,” Book of Standards, Volume 04.02, 2012
 ASTM International, “ASTM C511, Standard Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets,
Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic Cements and
Concretes,” Book of Standards, Volume 04.01, 2013

How to Solve Curling, Cracking, Scaling and More Concrete Problems

Why Builders Recommend Using Concrete Siding? Cost, Benefits or Both?

 How to Solve Common Concrete
Problems
Solutions and Tips to Avoid Them
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By Juan Rodriguez
Updated September 28, 2018

Concrete is a relatively easy material to manage. However, you can run into huge
problems if it is not worked on properly. Concrete problems vary but could include
discolorations, shrinkage, scaling, and various other problems. Here are some common
concrete problems to look out for and a guide on how to solve them.

 01

Discoloration
Pinghung Chen / EyeEm / Getty Images

Concrete should be of one color if you are using the correct batch and materials from the
Ready Mix. However, concrete discoloration could occur if there are sudden changes to
the cement material, if the finishing operations are rushed or if calcium chloride is added.
 All concrete ingredients must comply with the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) standards.

How to solve concrete discoloration:

o Specify with the ready-mix supplier your tolerance levels

o Prepare a uniform subgrade
o Wait until all the water has evaporated before finishing the concrete
o Avoid hard troweling on the exterior surface
 02

Scaling

Ivan / Getty Images

 Another common concrete problem is scaling. Scaling occurs when the concrete surface
breaks off and keeps peeling away. Scaling could also occur if non-air entrained concrete
is exposed to freeze-thaw cycles, inadequate concrete strength, or inadequate curing
procedure.

How can concrete scaling be avoided:

o Use a low slump-air (6 to 7 percent) in the entrained mix

o Wait till water has been evaporated from the surface
o Do not use salt or other chemicals during the winter season
 03

Crazing
Sergey Ryumin / Getty Images

One of the most repeated problems in concrete is crazing. Crazing occurs when the
surface shows several interconnected fine cracks or when the cement paste comes up to
the surface and shrinks. Although the concrete strength probably is not affected, cracks
will show up when the slab is damp.

How to avoid crazed concrete:

o Cure the concrete in a timely manner

o Use a moderate slump concrete without bleeding and segregation
 o Do not finish concrete until all water has evaporated
o Do not dust dry cement on the surface while water is present
o Do not sprinkle water over the concrete while finishing it
o If the weather could produce high evaporation rates, spray some water onto the
subgrade, so it will not absorb the water from the concrete mix
 04

Cracking

Simon McGill / Getty Images

 Concrete can crack easily. It's unpreventable, however, it can be controlled. This is one of
the main problems when constructing with concrete. Cracking can be the result of one or
a combination of factors, such as drying shrinkage, thermal contraction, subgrade
settlement, and applied loads. In the case of a wall, if a crack is not structural, or not too
wide ( the acceptable crack width is subjective but it could range from 1/16” to 1/4”),
or isn't leaking water, it should be considered acceptable.

How to reduce cracking of concrete:

o Remove topsoil, soft spots and organic material in the subgrade

o Compact all loose soil underneath the concrete slab
o Slope the subgrade for proper drainage
o Design a flexible concrete pavement that could accommodate load and
movements
o Install concrete joints accordingly by sawing, forming or tooling a groove
o Place, finish and cure concrete accordingly depending on the weather conditions
o Do not finish concrete if it has not finished bleeding
o Do not overwork concrete surface
o Avoid rapid drying conditions or use a set retardant admixture
o Minimize the mix water content by maximizing the size and amount of coarse
aggregate and use low-shrinkage aggregate
 05

Curling

Concrete curling occurs when there is a difference in both temperature and moisture of
the top and bottom surface. When curling occurs, the slab of the surface becomes
unsupported from the base.

How to avoid concrete curling:

o Use proper curling techniques

o Place concrete joints accordingly
o Use low water content or use water reducing admixtures
o Use the largest possible aggregate size
o Ensure proper bonding when applying thin topping mixes
o Use enough, not excessive, amount of steel reinforcement in the slab
o Place concrete on a damp but absorptive sub-grade so that all the bleed water is
not forced to the top of the slab
Curing-room design/construction
guide published
FEBRUARY 12, 2015

LATEST

Silver Spring, Md. — Moist-Curing

Room Design, Construction, and Maintenance is the title of a comprehensive new guide published by the
Construction-Materials Engineering and Testing Business Council (CoMETBC) of the Geoprofessional
Business Association. Woodward L. “Woody” Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, F.ACI, CEO of Paradigm
Consultants, Inc., authored the new guide based on his own extensive experience and the experience of a panel
of experts he assembled when planning his firm’s newest moist-curing room.

As he wrote in the guide’s preface, “As I began planning to build a new moist-curing room for the fourth time
in my career, I first and foremost wanted to avoid the unfortunate outcomes of my own past mistakes: mold,
rust, leaks, mold, slippery floors, damaged walls, mold, poor lighting, maintenance headaches, and – did I
mention it? – mold,” Vogt said.
Illustrated with 30 figures, the guide’s contents cover moist-curing room:

 maintenance;
 safety;
 death and taxes;
 location;
 size;
 floor slab;
 walls and ceilings;
 coatings, sealants, and membranes;
 doors;
 lighting fixtures;
 specimen storage (racks);
 fogging and air-temperature control;
 internal hose bib;
 thermostat;
 temperature recorder; and
 third-party design/build option.

Publication of the new work was made possible by the generous contributions of several Business Council
members and three principal sponsors: Agile Frameworks, Elm Tree System, and Bachner Communications,
Inc.

Moist-Curing Room Design, Construction, and Maintenance is available at the GBA website at
https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/shopping/shopping.aspx?site=gba&prd_key=d5d00423-4717-42b3-ada6-
86de505873c1. Nonmembers may purchase the guide for $250.