Rant: Found out concrete curing blankets trap way more moisture than I thought

I was reading a guide from the American Concrete Institute last night and it said a standard wet cure can add up to 15% more strength compared to just letting it dry out on its own. I've been skipping blankets on smaller jobs in Texas for years because I figured it didn't matter much. Has anyone else noticed a big difference when they actually keep the cure going for the full 7 days?

2 comments

2 Comments

jesse8420d agoMost Upvoted

Well damn, 15% more strength just from keeping it wet? That's a bigger number than I would have guessed. Always figured blankets were more about keeping the cold out than holding moisture in, but I guess water evaporation must really rob the mix. Never tested it side by side myself, but that ACI guide sounds legit. Might have to start taking curing seriously on my own projects now.

johnfoster20d ago

Is it just me or does that kind of apply to a lot of stuff in life, like how keeping at something slowly instead of rushing gives way better results? Maybe it's just one of those things where the easy shortcuts always cost you in the long run.