Saw a crew using wet burlap on a big slab in Phoenix last week

I was driving past a job site near the 101 and spotted about 6 guys laying burlap and misting it every hour on a 200 yard slab. Stuck around to ask the foreman and he said they do it to keep the cure consistent in the dry heat. Never tried that myself on anything bigger than a sidewalk. How long do you let the burlap sit before pulling it off?

2 comments

2 Comments

simonbell9d ago

I bet the foreman's hourly misting schedule is just an excuse to take 6 smoke breaks a day lol. I'd probably leave the burlap on til the slab starts sprouting moss or something.

the_fiona9d ago

You really think skipping the misting is harmless? That burlap is holding moisture against the concrete, and in hot weather it can dry out way faster than you think. I've seen slabs crack real bad because someone pulled the covers off too soon or didn't keep them damp. The foreman might be taking breaks, but that misting is what stops the surface from turning into a brittle mess. Leave the burlap on until it sprouts moss and you'll be patching those cracks with epoxy in a month.