How a concrete slab is to be used can dictate how it is cured. There’s not even an ASTM standard test to know if a concrete floor has been adequately cured. Do hard-troweled surfaces even need to be cured? What about industrial slabs that are to be polished? Slabs that are to receive moisture-sensitive flooring should only be cured with waterproof paper or plastic. Exterior concrete is typically sprayed with a monomolecular curing compound. But what’s the best way to cure decorative or colored concrete? In general, the curing methods that work best for decorative concrete, that is those that don’t affect the surface appearance, don’t follow ASTM or ACI requirements or guidelines. But if you cure decorative concrete with a curing compound will you end up with efflorescence? If you cure with a silicate densifier, is that effective? At this luncheon, concrete floor and decorative concrete experts will compare and contrast the current curing methods and products for hard-troweled floors versus those used for decorative concrete.
Panelists
Clark Branum, Diamatic USA, chair ACI-ASCC Committee 310, Decorative Concrete
Dave Hoyt, Curecrete, chair ACI Committee 310 Task Group on Curing
Scott Tarr, North S.Tarr Concrete Consulting
Bob Harris, Structural Services Inc. and Decorative Concrete Institute
Brought to you by Concrete Construction magazine in cooperation with the American Society of Concrete Contractors.
Sponsored by Somero Enterprises and Stego Industries
