Concrete curing – why is it necessary and how to choose the right material?

To achieve a strong and durable concrete floor, its maintenance products are an important part of the technology. Here we explain why it is necessary to maintain newly treated or old concrete and which materials are most effective.

Why do we need curating?

As concrete hardens, the water in it evaporates. If this process occurs particularly quickly, 

In the upper layer of the slab, rather than in the deeper layers, a kind of crust forms on the surface. This can be fraught with a number of problems, namely:

The surface is more susceptible to cracks and dust formation, and is easily scratched and disintegrated.

The load-bearing capacity of the slab is reduced.

Concrete hardening products, called curing agents, form a thin membrane on the surface of the concrete floor,

which gains strength. This prevents water from evaporating too quickly from the upper layers of the concrete slab, thereby contributing to 

Helps reduce the risk of cracking and breakage.

When a slab has uniform strength throughout its thickness, it can better withstand the weight placed on it and more easily withstand aggressive environments 

Therefore, it can be said that hardening helps concrete floors function at 100% of their potential.

Do  concrete  care  products  prevent  the appearance of white deposits (salts) on concrete ? 

This is a whitish spot that appears on the surface of concrete. They can occur for various reasons, 

But the main factors are water content and temperature. 

Because curing agents affect the proper distribution of water in the concrete slab, they can reduce the risk of white spots.

If white scale (salts) is a significant concern for you, you may also consider using water softening additives 

Use of (plasticizers) as part of the concrete mix.

Is it necessary to use concrete surface impregnation and curing?

Curing and exposure are two different processes and are performed for different purposes. We explained what curing is above.

A sealer is an additional surface protection that makes the concrete floor more durable and easier to maintain.

Separate curing and impregnation materials are used. For example, old floors do not require curing, 

And the revealer can give them new life.

When pouring a new concrete floor, both products can be useful. A sealant can be used

It can also be used as a hardener-curing agent, but it is used only after the concrete is poured and not during its pouring or drying process.

Can curing be used on colored concrete floors?

Although in most cases, curing can be used without any problems when laying new floors with colored hardeners (powder), it is still recommended to additionally check the product technical data and use it on a test area. For example, our curing products AK 35 and AK 70 can be used on newly laid floors, but QIS CL 100 can only be applied to the floor after 28 days, i.e. after the concrete has completely dried.

It is important to remember that curing is only one component of the entire technology for arranging concrete floors. Equally important are the quantitative content of water in the concrete mix and the release of water (both excess and insufficient).

Concrete floor curing agents – which one to choose?

There are two types of curing agents: water-based and solvent-based. Their operating principle is the same, but the method of application differs:

Water-based curing agent – ​​is a whitish liquid that becomes transparent after drying. The product is active for 7 days and penetrates the surface to prevent the formation of microcracks. This material can be useful in cases where the work needs to be completed in a short time. Since the product is water-based, it does not create any difficulties during storage or transportation, is fireproof and non-toxic.

Here we have given examples of our curing agents, however our line includes products that protect concrete floors even after they have been poured, or even for the maintenance of floors that have been poured several years ago. For example, transparent impregnation agents QIS CL 100 or QIS FLOOR LS 150, epoxy concrete floor paint QIS EPO FLOOR TC, outdoor concrete floor paint QIS BRAS, please familiarize yourself with their technical specifications.