more on concrete cure and seal

40 X 56 concrete floor for ag shop, equip storage. Pole Barn is complete except for floor. Bottom wall perlons are treated 2 x 6, set level and 2" above subgrade. 16' opening on both ends. Subgrade leveled and power tamped. #4 rebar on 12" centers has been laid on 3" chairs.

I think I am ready for 40 yds of 3500psi concrete to pour to 6" thick.

I hope to find a crew with tools to do the pour and approx 4 hrs after troweling, cut compression joints 1-1/2" deep in a 13'X 14' grid.

I plan to cure the floor by ponding water on the surface to keep it submerged for 7 days. This should be easy since the wall perlons act as 1) a form for the pour, 1)a dam to keep water on the floor.

After the 7 day cure, remove the water, let dry thoroughly. Not sure of the time to expect this take.

Seal using a penetrating type of sealer. Perhaps Enco Diamond Hard. Not sure exactly how to apply this penetrating sealer.

I would not recommend letting water stand on your concrete. You don't say what part of the country you're in, but if there's any chance of freezing temperatures you must not have water standing on the concrete. (I haven't experienced this myself, but my brother does concrete work and says this will really wreck a concrete job.)

If you use a sealer that can be applied to fresh concrete (such as Meadows CS-309), you don't have to worry about keeping the surface wet. There's more than enough water in the mix for a good cure, you just have to keep it from escaping too fast.