Debate: wet curing vs curing compound - which one actually works better?

I was pouring a 40-foot driveway last week outside Atlanta and got into it with this old timer on the job. He swears by wet burlap and keeps it soaked for 7 days straight, says nothing else compares for strength. I usually just spray on a good curing compound and call it done after a day, saves me so much time. But then I noticed a section where my compound might have started peeling off near the edges and now I'm second guessing myself. The homeowner walked out and asked if the concrete would crack, and I stood there not knowing what to say. Has anyone else had curing compound fail like that or am I just using a bad brand?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_kai8d ago

The burlap method works fine but you have to be careful with it drying out on the edges. If that burlap gets even a little dry in the Georgia heat it can actually pull moisture out of the concrete instead of keeping it in. Curing compound peeling near the edges is pretty common especially if you didn't get a good seal or the concrete was a bit too wet when you sprayed it on. Most compounds need a clean dry surface to bond right and fresh concrete near forms can be tricky. Hogging the compound on heavy near those edges helps. Not sure what brand you used but a lot of the cheaper stuff starts flaking off after a day or two in the sun.

perez.mia8d ago

Yeah my buddy tried that and his edges peeled like a bad sunburn.