First Question for the new site

How log does freshly poured concret have to set before you can stripe it.?

Most paint mfg's say 30 days. My experience is that you just can't tell, but the longer the better.

I believe it is recommended you wait 30 days if there was a cure on it and I would imagine there are variations from one cure manufacturer to another. My understanding is the cure is there to seal off the new wet concrete so it doesn't dry out too soon, someone will correct me if I am wrong. A cure will wear off and is meant to. There is a difference between cure and cure/sealer also. I doubt most pmc's would check or ask before painting the lot. A cure/seal may be applied right after placement and will not wear off in a short period as a simple cure would. A cure/seal sometimes recommends a second application after a short period. Also I think you'll find most building contractors would want the lot done asap. My experience has been hit and miss as to which paint type works better and if paint sticks better to sealed or unsealed concrete. I will be surprised if you do not receive varying opinions to the previous statement, I am only relating personal experience. But what do I know as the Fonz would say! Just curious, where are you located?

It's not just the curing compound that matters. The concrete is very alkaline and takes a while to cure out. The alkalinity causes the paint to break down and peel off. Even washing with muriatic acid is not a guaranty that all the alkalinity is gone. That's why they say wait 30 days, even if it does not have curing compound. BTW, most curing compound is made to break down with sunlight, so shady areas take longer.

Robert wrote on Mar 7, 2005:Go to #4

It's not just the curing compound that matters. The concrete is very alkaline and takes a while to cure out. The alkalinity causes the paint to break down and peel off. Even washing with muriatic acid is not a guaranty that all the alkalinity is gone. That's why they say wait 30 days, even if it does not have curing compound. BTW, most curing compound is made to break down with sunlight, so shady areas take longer.

Thanks for pointing that out Robert. That is one reason they say latex paints are better on concrete, the PH factor.

If they want you to paint it before the 30 days I would let them know up front that the paint will fail. I have a re-stripe to do this spring for this very reason. The concrete was poured late and they wanted the drive thru open before winter. I painted on two different "pours" one was 60 days plus and the other within 2 weeks. Of course the paint on the last pour failed badly. I told them up front that this could happen and they were cool with it. Now I can put the re-stripe money in my pocket and not have to do a P/R freebee.