- Jun 19, 2013
- 85
i have read that gunite needs to cure - some sites say a few days others say a month. Why is there such a broad recommendation??
Gunite curing times
- Thread starter thelorib
- Start date
- Jun 19, 2013
- 85
I suppose there are different ways to look at this issue. Of course, gunite is stronger after a month of curing. But the criteria is that the gunite needs moisture to continue to cure (hardened) sufficiently. If it dries out, no continued curing or hardening is taking place.
But even if the 3-day gunite is plastered over, the gunite will continue to cure and become stronger, because brand new plaster allows some water to pass through during the first few days after plastering. After about a week, the plaster is virtually water tight by that point in time. I suspect that enough moisture would be available to the gunite for proper curing for a month to sufficiently harden.
Another issue is that fresh gunite chemically bonds better to the plaster than older gunite, which is why waiting more than a couple of months to plaster can be problematic. At some point in time, older gunite only achieves a mechanical bond, instead of both.
But even if the 3-day gunite is plastered over, the gunite will continue to cure and become stronger, because brand new plaster allows some water to pass through during the first few days after plastering. After about a week, the plaster is virtually water tight by that point in time. I suspect that enough moisture would be available to the gunite for proper curing for a month to sufficiently harden.
Another issue is that fresh gunite chemically bonds better to the plaster than older gunite, which is why waiting more than a couple of months to plaster can be problematic. At some point in time, older gunite only achieves a mechanical bond, instead of both.
