The difference 3 years of proper curing makes on a driveway

I went back to look at a driveway I did back in 2021 in Columbus. The owner kept up with wet curing for the full 7 days like I told him. Compared to the neighbor's driveway that was done a month later by a crew that just sprayed one coat of cure and left. My one still has no cracks and the color stayed even while theirs is already spiderwebbed and faded near the edges. Has anyone else gone back to check on old jobs years later and seen a big split like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

michaelcoleman10d ago

Man, I used to think curing was overrated but this definitely changed my mind.

simonreed10d ago

Is it really that big of a difference though? I mean I get that you want it to cure right but Ive seen plenty of slabs that never got wet once and theyre fine after 10 years. Maybe its just the mix or the weather or something else. Just seems like people make a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be sometimes.

felix48810d ago

Yeah the difference between wet curing and just spraying cure is legit night and day. I did a job back in 2020 for a guy in Cincinnati and he drenched that slab twice a day for a week straight. Went back last summer and it still looked basically new. Meanwhile his neighbor's driveway from 2021 is already showing those fine hairline cracks near the expansion joints. Its wild how many crews just slap on that single coat of cure and act like thats enough. People dont realize concrete needs that moisture to keep gaining strength and not dry out too fast. Glad the owner in Columbus listened to you, thats what keeps customers happy long term.