Concrete cure time

mloc123

I concreted in fence posts yesterday, how long should I let it cure before building the frame work between them? will be screwing and not hammering to them.

24 hours plenty or should I wait.

Safehands

mloc123 wrote: »

I concreted in fence posts yesterday, how long should I let it cure before building the frame work between them? will be screwing and not hammering to them.
24 hours plenty or should I wait.

It depends on the mix you used. If you had plenty of cement in the mix, you could achieve in excess of 10N in 24 hours and that would be fine for the job you are doing. Also watch the wind. On a calm day there would be very little stress on the posts, but if it going to be exposed to wind that could cause some problems for you, if you are building a wooden fence. This weather should really be fine after 24 hours.

Littlehorny

If your back in work tomorrow go ahead with getting the fence up but you could put temporary props either side of your work for the next few days to secure the job to give the concrete every chance.

CJhaughey

Did you use Post Mix? or normal cement?
Post mix has a 10 min cure time, although I would leave it 24 hrs before doing anything with it.
3:1 cement I would leave it a couple of days if not a week before touching it.

mloc123

I put up the cross members today, I will let it cure for the week before putting the cladding on next weekend.

Safehands

mloc123 wrote: »

I put up the cross members today, I will let it cure for the week before putting the cladding on next weekend.

What type of concrete did you use? Rapid setting mixes can be put into use within about 2 - 3 hours. Tecfast Concrete is one that will be fine to build on in two hours in this weather. I think Postfix can be used very quickly too.

WilyCoyote

Did some steps this afternoon with this stuff. Shutter away and walking on them an hour later. No mixing, just emptied 12 bags in ......... used a metal rake to level, hosed water on and that was that. http://howto.homedepot.com/videos/watch/876532335001/How-to-use-Quikrete-Fast-Setting-Concrete-Mix-The-Home-Depot.html

mloc123

Safehands wrote: »

What type of concrete did you use? Rapid setting mixes can be put into use within about 2 - 3 hours. Tecfast Concrete is one that will be fine to build on in two hours in this weather. I think Postfix can be used very quickly too.

Just a standard 6:1 mix of gravel and cement... no quick setting stuff.

Safehands

mloc123 wrote: »

Just a standard 6:1 mix of gravel and cement... no quick setting stuff.

OK, 6:1 probably hand mixed, I would give it about 48 hours minimum.

mloc123

It has until Saturday now anyway before I will get a chance to look at it again

Rainwaterman

mloc123 wrote: »

I concreted in fence posts yesterday, how long should I let it cure before building the frame work between them? will be screwing and not hammering to them.

24 hours plenty or should I wait.

24 hours should be fine. Concrete takes around 28 days to achieve its full strength but you can start to lay blocks on it after 24 hours from pour time.Just finished a garden project where i had to underpin and strengthen wall foundations using 12mm rebar and digging down 3 feet. Concrete mixed by machine in back garden and poured a 1 2 3 mix of concrete with 20mm stone in it. Built my shuttering from 18mm ply and 2x2 wooden stakes. Used some olive oil on an old cloth as the release agent for the shuttering ply and it came away very easily after 3 days curing time.Both walls are now underpinned and have propper solid foundations and support underneath them.