• Jul 21, 2025

How long does concrete last?

Concrete can last over 100 years if properly mixed and cured.
Most concrete is designed to last 50-100 years.
Most concrete reaches 70% strength in 7 days and full strength in 28 days.

Curing

Curing is essential for strength.

If concrete dries too quickly there is an issue. It can lead to a loss of structural strength. Small cracks are a normal process. It is the larger cracks that can cause issues. Keeping new concrete moist prevents rapid moisture loss, reducing initial shrinkage cracks. A process called 'Soff-Cut' is a concrete sawing method timed to add strength early in the process.

Instead of waiting many hours for the slab to harden, contractors can cut control joints within 1–2 hours of finishing, while the concrete is still "green".

Concrete naturally shrinks as it cures. Cutting control joints creates planned weak points so cracks form neatly where you want them, not randomly across the slab.

Maintenance

Regular maintenance, like sealing and addressing cracks early, can significantly extend the lifespan of concrete.

"Concrete cancer, or "concrete spalling" or "concrete degradation," occurs when the steel reinforcement inside concrete structures begins to erode. This process compromises the integrity of the concrete and can lead to structural damage over time.

Concrete Cancer

Is concrete bad for the environment?

Concrete has a significant environmental impact, largely due to how it's made and how widely it's used.

• Carbon emissions cement the main ingredient in concrete is estimated to by responsible for 7-8% of global C0₂ emissions
• Water usage approx 10% of global industrial water usage
• Green space loss
• Creates heat
• Air pollution from cement factories