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Noticed a huge difference in concrete curing times this year vs last summer
I've been doing driveways and patios in Phoenix for 8 years, and this summer the heat is messing with my cure times way worse than 2023. Last July I could pour and finish in about 4 hours before it set, but now I'm lucky to get 2.5 hours before it's too hard to work. I started adding ice to the mix water and covering with wet burlap right after finishing, which has helped but adds about $45 per job in materials. Anyone else dealing with faster cure times in their area?
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emma_jones5d ago
Actually I gotta push back on this a bit - are you sure the cure times are really that much worse or could it be your mix design changing between batches? I've been pouring here in Phoenix for years and the real issue is humidity levels more than raw temp, last summer was a monsoon season while this year's been bone dry which changes everything. Adding ice and wet burlap is a bandaid when you should really be looking at your mix's water-cement ratio and using a set retarder instead of fighting the heat with extra steps.
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