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Concrete & Masonryaka: concrete curingaka: moist curing

Curing

In Plain English

Keeping new concrete wet or covered so it gains strength properly — skipping this step produces weak, brittle concrete.

Definition

The process of maintaining moisture and temperature in freshly placed concrete for a sufficient period to allow proper cement hydration and strength development. Curing can be achieved through wet curing (burlap, ponding), membrane curing (spray-applied compounds), or insulated curing blankets in cold weather. Proper curing significantly increases compressive strength and durability.

Why It Matters in Bidding

Curing is often a hidden cost driver that estimators underprice or omit entirely, yet inadequate curing leads to low strength-test breaks, rejected pours, and costly remediation. Bid takeoffs should account for curing labor, materials, and schedule duration, especially on cold-weather work where heated enclosures and blankets carry real cost. The curing method specified in the project documents directly affects both the line-item price and the placement schedule.

Example

Reviewing a winter parking-deck pour, an estimator adds line items for insulated curing blankets and a temporary heated enclosure after the spec required maintaining 50 degrees F for seven days, raising the concrete subcontractor's number accordingly.

Related Terms

Compressive StrengthWater-Cement RatioPortland CementFlatwork

Frequently Asked Questions

Curing is almost always carried by the concrete subcontractor, but estimators must confirm scope in the bid documents. Cold-weather protection, temporary heat, and extended cure durations sometimes shift to the general contractor's general conditions, so clarify responsibility during bidding to avoid a gap that surfaces as a change order later.
Specified cure periods govern when forms can be stripped and follow-on trades can start, so curing time sits directly on the critical path. Estimators should align cure durations with the schedule and progress-billing milestones, since premature loading or stripping triggers rework that delays draws and disrupts cash flow.
On routine slabs, curing is usually folded into the unit price. For demanding specs, such as high-early-strength, mass concrete, or cold-weather pours, breaking out curing materials, labor, and protection improves bid accuracy and gives the owner a clear basis for evaluating cost during addenda or value-engineering discussions.

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