What Happens If Concrete Isn’t Cured Properly_
                     What Happens If Concrete Isn’t Cured
Properly?
Concrete is the backbone of RCC 
(Reinforced Cement Concrete) 
construction. Whether
you’re building your dream home 
or a large commercial structure, 
concrete is trusted for its
strength and durability.
But here’s a secret many first-
time home builders don’t realise, 
concrete doesn’t automatically
become strong just because it’s 
poured and set. The strength 
builds during curing.
So, is curing really necessary? 
What happens if concrete isn’t 
cured properly? And how can you
make sure your structure remains 
solid for decades? Let’s dive in as 
Ambuja Cement breaks it
all down for you.
What is the Curing of Concrete?
In simple terms, curing is about giving concrete the right environment to harden properly. It’s 
the
process of maintaining adequate moisture and temperature during the early stages so that the
cement compounds fully react with water. This hydration process is what gives concrete its
strength, density, and durability.
Without curing, your mix may harden, but it won’t achieve its intended strength. Imagine baking
a cake but taking it out of the oven halfway. It may look fine, but the inside won’t hold up. That’s
exactly what happens when concrete isn’t cured the right way.
Why Curing is Necessary
Curing does more than just keep concrete “wet.” It:
● Improves Strength: Proper curing ensures maximum hydration, allowing concrete to
reach its designed strength.
● Prevents Cracks: It reduces both plastic shrinkage cracks (soon after pouring) and
long-term drying shrinkage cracks.
● Enhances Durability: A well-cured slab has a denser microstructure, which resists
water ingress, seepage, and harmful chemical attacks.
● Increases Longevity: Structures built with correctly cured Ambuja concrete stand
stronger against time, weather, and wear.
Methods of Curing Concrete
Builders have several tried-and-tested ways of curing concrete:
1. Water Ponding: Shallow ponds are created over flat surfaces like slabs and beams and kept filled with water.
2. Spraying or Fogging: Ideal for vertical elements like columns and walls, where water can be sprayed at 
regular intervals.
3. Covering with Gunny Bags: Wet sacks or gunny bags are draped over surfaces and kept moist continuously.
4. Plastic Sheets or Tarpaulin: These sheets trap moisture and prevent evaporation, especially useful in hot or 
windy conditions.
5. Curing Compounds: Special membrane-forming compounds are sprayed over surfaces to lock in moisture.
What Happens if Concrete Isn’t Cured Properly?
Now here’s the part most home builders need to know. Improper curing can create long-term
structural issues.
1. Reduced Strength
Without adequate moisture, cement compounds can’t hydrate fully. This means your concrete never reaches its full strength, weakening your 
entire structure.
2. Surface Cracking
Early drying leads to plastic shrinkage cracks. Over time, these cracks allow moisture and harmful chemicals to seep inside, accelerating 
damage.
3. Low Durability
Poorly cured concrete develops a porous structure. Higher porosity means more permeability, which causes seepage, dampness, and even 
efflorescence (that white powdery deposit you sometimes see on walls).
4. Improper Hydration
Incomplete hydration means the concrete is brittle and prone to long-term shrinkage cracks, reducing both performance and safety.
5. Visible Weakness in Exposed Structures
Roads, bridges, chimneys, cooling towers, and slabs, all structures with large surface areas, suffer the most. They’re directly exposed to weather 
and are at higher risk of fine surface cracks.
How Long Should You Cure Concrete?
The duration of curing depends on the type of cement used:
● Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC): Keep the concrete damp for at least 14 days.
● Blended Cements (PPC, PSC): With Ambuja Cement’s popular blended options, a
longer curing period of 21 days is recommended to ensure full strength development.
Practical Tips for Proper Curing
● Start curing immediately after final setting, don’t wait until cracks appear.
● For slabs, create small ponds with sand or mortar and keep them filled with water.
● For beams and columns, spray water at intervals and cover with wet burlap or gunny bags.
● In hot or windy weather, be extra cautious, cover surfaces with tarpaulin or plastic sheets to minimise rapid evaporation.
● Make curing supervision a part of your construction checklist; don’t leave it entirely to chance.
Why Ambuja Cement is the Right Choice
While curing is essential, the quality of the cement itself makes a huge difference. Using
poor-quality cement will never give you the durability you’re looking for, no matter how carefully
you cure.
Ambuja Cement is engineered with advanced formulations that ensure superior hydration,
strength, and long-term performance. Whether you’re building with OPC or blended cements,
Ambuja provides mixes that respond well to curing and give you strong, crack-resistant, and
reliable results.
Conclusion
Curing might seem like just another step in the building process, but it’s the difference 
between
a house that lasts a few decades and one that lasts for generations. Improper curing of 
concrete
leads to cracks, reduced strength, and poor durability, problems no homeowner wants to 
face
after investing time, effort, and money.
So, when you build your dream home, don’t compromise. Choose the right cement, 
Ambuja
Cement, and pair it with proper curing practices