how long does a concrete pad need to set before you build on it?

Question

how long does a concrete pad need to set before you build on it?
I'm building a shop

Answer 1

QTY P gave you the right answer. It is always best to wait 54 days. That is what I was taught in school. I took years of carpentry/construction related classes.

For it to be fully cured and dry, it needs to sit for 54 days. To build on it, 24-48 hours, depending on how thick it is. Sorry, had to have a drink to remember.

Answer 2

Sam Gunner gave the correct answer. 24 hours is long enough. Concrete that is poured for a home will be cured enough to build on. altough
some concrete takes longer, it depends a lot on the thickness. Believe this or not, there are DAMS that were built in the 30s that the concrete has NOT completly cured,( to this date)? Like Hover dam, Engeneres came up with a solution to help the concrete cure by useing a cooling solution running through pipes set into the concrete (the begining of air conditioning). Concrete heats when it starts to cure. If concrete is not used soon after the truck that is delevering it, it will start to harden nothing will stop the process, no matter how much water is added to it.
But you can speed the hardening process.
Concrete hardens with age. I have been a Carpenter all my adult life, I am now 76 years old.
Ask any bona-fied contracter if he is going to wait 54 days befor walking on or building on it. One other thing you might think about doing, after it has set well enough to walk on, say 5-6 hours you can helpyour concrete by laying a water hose on top of your slab and turn on the water slowly so as not to force a jet of water on your slab, putting a board under the hose end will help, let the water just flow easy off the board, this will help the cureing process not to set up to fast, and lessen the chance of cracks later on. wetting the surface
every 1-2 hours say untill midnight will help greatly.

Answer 3

It all depends on the builder, and the part of the country. Where there is cold weather in the winter, you will find houses built with better insulation Whether or not a house has brick on the outside, is up to the builder, and often the buyer. If he orders it as a trim, the price is raised by the builder. Many homes are built with a stucco exterior. I have found them in California, Florida, and Texas.. and Arizona. It holds up to the element of heat, better than wood siding. All brick homes are well known in Texas. They serve to insulate the houses there, and holds in the coolness. All homes have air conditioning there. Swamp coolers are refrigeration with a water hose that makes a cooling breeze. Just the same, but the cost is much less than an A/C unit. So brick houses are not the commono dwelling, and where you find them, they are usually much more expensive that a wooden shake and shingle home.

Answer 4

It really depends on what you mean by build on it. If you have any embedded anchor bolts then I would wait a week before putting any strain on the bolts because if they are close to the edge, they might pop out of the concrete or cause a large piece of the concrete to spall off.

Likewise, if you are going to anchor any sill plate to the edges with concrete nails or similar attaching method then you had best wait a week. You stand a chance of chipping off pieces of concrete and losing the gripping power of the nails and messing up the edge of the concrete.

Concrete gets half to two thirds of its strength in 7 days and its design strength in 28 days. It continues to gain strength over time.

Answer 5

The standard for concrete to hydrate is 23 days to reach full strength. Concrete hydration is a chemical process and is determined by the cement, water, lime mix ratios. And dependent on temperature,
humidity. Most builders start framing 24 hours after a pour, the strength of the pour increases
to match the time it takes to fully load the concrete.

Answer 6

I would wait at least 30 days for it to set. Waiting 24 hours is definitely not long enough. The concrete needs at least 72 hours to cure to a point where it can be walked on and at least 30 days to completely cure, depending on the thickness of the concrete that you put down.

Answer 7

I'm a guy, and personally, I don't like long nails. I know a lot of like very long, painted nails cause they're "so pretty", but I don't like them.

Answer 8

A little bit of toe nail is fine... but I agree with you. Long nails are kinda major.

Answer 9

Don't let it dry out too quickly . Cover with tarpaulins for two weeks then build.

Answer 10

54 days