Curing

While everybody agrees that concrete must be cured properly, and this is required by all concrete building codes, it is a pity to see how poorly concrete is still cured in the field. This may be because until recently, people did not realize how poor curing practices would drastically decrease the durability and sustainability of concrete structures. The effects of bad curing were observed only in the long term, when those involved in the initial construction process were no longer active in the field. As early as 1930, Gonnerman wrote:

Studies of numerous investigations have conclusively demonstrated that adequate curing of concrete is essential in order to develop to a high degree the desirable properties of concrete. … Curing becomes of particular importancewherewater-tightness and durability under severe conditions of exposure are desired.