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Concrete is the most popular garage flooring option because it’s durable and can stand up to the weight of vehicles. If you plan on using your garage to park your car or store heavy items, concrete is a solid option. However, if you want to convert your garage to a living space, you can choose any number of flooring options to go over the concrete foundation, including wood, tile, and even carpeting.

Spraying water on concrete will slow down the curing process and can help create a stronger slab. Spraying your concrete may be necessary if you’re pouring in hotter temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, if it’s particularly windy, or if your new concrete is exposed to intense sunlight. Avoid spraying for the first four hours, and then spray five to 10 times a day for the following week.

Poured concrete should be set and hard to the touch within 24 to 48 hours, although it depends on the humidity in the air, the thickness of the concrete, and the type of concrete. It’s best to leave concrete to set for three days before exposing to foot traffic or stress. Concrete takes between 20 and 30 days to cure and reach its peak strength, so for foundations and retaining walls, plan to wait about a month before placing any load on your concrete.

The easiest way to handle extra-wet cement is to pour it, let it harden, and then recycle it using one of the methods above. You can also crush it down and sell it for base materials, although this can be pretty time-consuming. Your best bet is to start with less concrete than you need and make more as you go to avoid this problem.