Deck Footers curing time

[Dale Paul]

We just poured four 44" X 12" footers for our deck and are waiting for the cement to cure. How long before I can start building the deck on these new footers?

[gregz]

Are you using galvanized mounting pads? If your giving hard lateral thrust, I'd give it a few days.

Greg

[hrhofmann]

Surfing the internet googling for "concrete curing times" brings up 5

- 7 days for close to maximum strength. Google it yourself as there are many variables that influence timing, and you have given us nothing to base estimates on.

[Ed Pawlowski]

I've seen it done the next day.

[DD_BobK]

SNIP

I don't know what source you're quoting but IME.... the numbers we used to use were ~1 day 25% ~5 days 50% ~10 days 75% "nominal full design strength" is assumed at 28 day but concrete continues to gain strength at a very reduced rate for a long time.

As long as you don't abuse the green concrete you can build the next day. When it's green (less than a week) it is especially susceptible to damage caused by tensile loading.

cheers Bob

[repairs]

Yep, so have I, but if it was mine, I'd wait at least a week. Be sure to hose the concrete after the 2nd day too. Keeping it moist adds strength.

[bob haller]

supposedly so, its a forever thing given its size. miniscule increases in strngth

[krw]

Are they still actively cooling it?

[bob haller]

no that only lasted a few years, with such a large concrete structure it could of overheated and damaged the concrete

[krw]

Sure but Oren made it sound like it was still an issue. Thanks for the clarification.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Concrete should be outlawed to prevent global warming. Its for the children.

We need organic dams.

[spammer]

Made entirely of politicians.

[krw]

Dam politicians, damn politicians, or damned politicians?