What if Concrete Gets Too Wet?
Dry concrete is created by adding stone, sand, and cement together in a certain ratio. After which water will be added, this is when the chemical reaction sets in to form a paste that will bind the ingredients together. Water will slowly evaporate as the concrete starts to dry and will strengthen over a period of time.
This process is known as curing and can take around 28 days to complete. However, the biggest mistake you can make when you mix concrete is to add too much water. When concrete is too wet, its strength is significantly reduced, which can spell disaster for structural projects such as footings and foundations; both rely on strong concrete. This is why masons will carefully monitor how much water they add and will mix concrete as dry as possible.
When concrete gets too wet, it results in excess shrinkage during the curing process. As a result, the concrete will crack, and some are big enough to damage structures. While cracks are a big problem, the real problem with watered-down concrete is it is weak. A watery concrete mix can reduce its compressive strength. A good rule of thumb is every additional inch of slump will reduce the concrete’s compressive strength by around 500 psi. That strength reduction is disastrous when the concrete is being used to support a structure.
When concrete is too wet, it is weak and prone to cracks, breakages, weakness, and often total failure. The ideal consistency is the same as thick oatmeal, which should never be watery.
When the concrete has too much water, it will also dry and become more porous. This is because of the water that has to evaporate, and as a result, the concrete will actually absorb even more water than it ought to.
If you would like to make an appointment with a reputable concrete service, please contact Aztech Concrete Construction at (805) 714-5960 now if you live in the Santa Maria, CA region.