{"id":511,"date":"2022-10-31T14:55:45","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T14:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhousebuilding.com\/?p=511"},"modified":"2022-10-31T14:55:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T14:55:45","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-for-concrete-to-dry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhousebuilding.com\/how-long-does-it-take-for-concrete-to-dry\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take For Concrete To Dry?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019re building a new home, doing some renovations, or adding features to your backyard, it\u2019s highly likely that at some point, you will need to work with concrete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concrete is a very versatile material that can be used as the base for many different home improvement projects but it’s very important that freshly placed concrete is given enough time to adequately dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although solid and durable when fully cured, fresh concrete is very delicate and can be easily ruined if you don\u2019t take care of it properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will look at how long it takes for concrete to dry and what can be done to ensure your concrete dries properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does It Take For Concrete To Dry?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drying, or curing, concrete, is a process that never really ends. Concrete will constantly become drier and harder as the days pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, that doesn’t mean you have to wait forever for your concrete to be dry enough to continue with your project. To better explain why this is the case, let\u2019s begin by looking at how concrete cures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does Concrete Dry?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Concrete is made by mixing cement particles<\/a> with water to make a thick liquid that can then be poured wherever it is needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As time passes, the cement particles bond with the water molecules, and the mixture slowly becomes harder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the moisture bubbles in the mixture don\u2019t need to completely disappear for the concrete to be considered cured. This is why we say that concrete will continue to become harder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moisture bubbles that are still within the mixture will slowly continue to be eliminated as the years and decades pass and will make your concrete even harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when we ask how long it takes for concrete to dry, we don\u2019t mean how long it takes for it to completely dry. Instead, we mean how long until it is dry enough for its purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concrete Drying Timescales<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After learning how concrete is made and dried, you might be thinking that it will take a long time for your concrete to cure enough to be usable. Thankfully, this isn\u2019t the case! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many factors that can affect exactly how long your concrete will take to cure, but the following timescales can be taken as a general idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would always recommend that you test your concrete to ensure it is dry enough before continuing with your project or allowing anyone to walk on it, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n