How long should a stoop scratchcoat be left to cure?

I’ve taken advantage of the warm winter to get my stoop renovated. The scratchcoat has been completed and I want to know how long it should be left to cure before the finishcoat is applied. My contractor seems to think he can go ahead with the finishcoat as soon as we get 50+ degree days but someone once told me that you need to leave the scratchcoat for as long as possible, preferably 3-6 months. My contractor doesn’t think this is true and says that it cures quicker in weather like we are having now – but then he has his own interests in mind no doubt. Can anyone advise?

seconder

in Brownstoner Renovation 13 years and 5 months ago

4

Please log in, in order to post replies!

4 replies

Newest Oldest

wyckoff | 13 years and 5 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4919 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4876 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "26009"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "wyckoff"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BAMrRIKB4WASdCkuxEITHMhYQsE5yr."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "wyckoff"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(25) "michael.w.cooney@citi.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(22) "/forums/users/wyckoff/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:07:38"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "wyckoff"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(26009)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

4-6 weeks is pretty normal in warmer months.  Most concrete specs measure strength @ 28 days.  Of course, depite the “warm weather”, below 50 degrees the process of hydration (technical term for the drying/strengthening process) pretty much stops.  The fact that your contractor doesn’t know that is fking unbelievable.  You should have hired a quality mason.  I would guess you should at least double the time (8-12 weeks) given the time of year.  If you rush it and your stoop starts cracking in a couple of years you are going to feel like a complete idiot for not being more patient.

ronman | 13 years and 5 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4918 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4917 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "5176"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "ronman"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BwQS/JH1h.1RKK00TXkSBED24Eo.hd1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "ronman"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(15) "sebb_23@msn.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(19) "/forums/users/sebb/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:13:39"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "kdi8y1u0ZA0VcLe9UGia"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "ronman"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(5176)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You should let the scratchcoat stay on as long as possible. Do not let the contractor rush to put the final coat. I would let it cure and crack . 8 months or more is ideal

seconder | 13 years and 5 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4914 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4920 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3474"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "seconder"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Blt49hkDxI5avjLf0tW2a5OVD5KPV4/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "seconder"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "jamessnow99@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(22) "/forums/users/britlyn/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:12:46"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "seconder"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3474)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 5 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4919 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4921 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3864"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtJYyObAQmff2MQp.qFP7/kmwU1bBZ1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "djl135e54@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/daveinbedstuy/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:23:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3864)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Contractor is right. 3-6 months is crazy talk.