Poured concrete today

[spookyfoot]

We are inching closer to Spa Day. After 2 months of trying to schedule contractors to pour a concrete patio, we finally got it done today! Got the electric service last week!

We are scheduling the spa (Artesian Piper Glen) to be delievered the first of next week, after the concrete is cured.

Is there anything else we need to do to prep the area? Any other considerations we might have missed? Suggestions for set-up day?

[UnderTheStars]

Congrats!  You are closing in.  It's important now to keep the slab wet.  Logically you think it cures by drying - not true!  Concrete hardens from a chemical process (hydration - interraction between water and the portland cement.)

Allowing the surface to dry will cause the final product to be weaker.  Sprinkle w/the garden hose then cover the slab with plastic so it STAYS wet.  Pull the plastic and re-wet a couple times a day.  Burlap or straw (which you probably don't have on hand) under the plastic helps hold the moisture too.

New concrete achieves 50% of it's final strength in 3 days; 80% strength in 7 days.  Good for you for waiting until beginning of the week to land the tub!  Now keep it damp until then and you'll have a great slab.

[spookyfoot]

woohoo! (getting excited!)

the husband and i are going to home depot when he gets home from work, so we can pick up some straw there. i've been spraying it, but it's so hot, it's drying really fast. so we need to get something on top of it.

here's a link to a photo of the site:

http://homepage.mac.com/brookhines/patio/PhotoAlbum27.html

[UnderTheStars]

Hey!  That's a good sized slab!  Buy some cheap roll plastic as well.  After you spray it down, pull the plastic over - when the sun evaporates the water it will condense on the underside of the plastic sheet and keep the straw damp longer.