Just read that concrete curing can increase strength by 50% - is that right or hype?

I was flipping through an ACI guidebook at our supply yard yesterday (while waiting for a load) and saw a stat that said proper moist curing can boost compressive strength by up to 50% compared to letting it dry out fast. That blew my mind because I've always just wet the slab down and covered it with plastic, nothing fancy. But then I got to wondering - is that 50% number real for everyday flatwork like driveways and patios, or is it more for lab mixes with strict controls? Has anyone here actually tested pours where they did a full 7-day wet cure versus just letting it be?

2 comments

2 Comments

emery_young132d ago

Honestly, my buddy runs a small crew doing residential slabs and he tested this a couple years back, did a 7-day wet cure on one side of a garage floor and just plastic on the other. Tbh the wet-cured side tested about 40% harder when they core sampled it later.

evan_burns951d ago

Bet your buddy still does wet cure after that.