Why Moisture Retention Is the #1 Factor in Concrete Curing
The paramount goal in curing a concrete floor has always been the same: keep the moisture in the slab. Without moisture, hydration stops, strength is compromised, and durability suffers. Yet during placement, natural conditions and the extreme heat generated by the hydration process make water want to do the opposite—escape the concrete.
Today, this challenge is even more critical. Cement manufacturers have changed formulations, shifting toward Portland Limestone Cement (PLC, also known as Type 1L). The EPA and other governing bodies are encouraging this move to reduce the concrete industry’s carbon footprint. While more sustainable, PLC cements are more sensitive to moisture loss during curing. Simply put: keeping water in the slab is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Why It Matters: Strength, Flatness, and Longevity
Every building begins with its foundation, and the concrete slab on grade sets the tone for everything built above it. Improper curing doesn’t just affect appearance—it directly impacts performance and lifecycle costs:
Strength and abrasion resistance: A properly cured slab resists wear and tear.
Crack mitigation: Moisture retention reduces cracking, crazing, and curling.
Flatness and sheen: A cured and densified surface produces flatter floors with consistent finish.
Health and hygiene: Closed pores resist penetration of airborne bacteria and contaminants.
With PLC cement in play, these outcomes are more difficult to achieve using outdated curing methods.
The New Green Umbrella Difference: GreenIce Nano-Technology
At New Green Umbrella (NGU), we’ve developed GreenIce, a nano-technology system that revolutionizes the way concrete slabs are cured, densified, and finished. Unlike 80-year-old methods still used on jobsites, GreenIce is applied at the time of placement—consolidating curing, densifying, and sealing into a single step.
Key benefits of GreenIce:
Moisture retention and densification from day one
No need to return later to apply a densifier
Reduced cracks, curl, and crazing
Sheen and finish without expensive polishing
Lower cure, seal, and densify costs (savings of up to $0.50/SF)
Contractors, Architects, and Owners Are Already Making the Switch
Across the U.S., contractors, architects, and owners are adopting NGU’s GreenIce technology. They’re discovering that better concrete doesn’t have to cost more—it simply requires rethinking outdated methods. With GreenIce, the cost of curing and finishing is equal to or less than legacy approaches, while delivering measurable improvements in performance and sustainability.
Why Every Slab in America Deserves GreenIce
The shift to PLC cement is industry-wide. Moisture management is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s the single most important factor in long-term slab performance. With GreenIce, NGU delivers a solution that aligns with EPA sustainability goals, ACI/ASTM curing requirements, and real-world contractor needs.
The result: Stronger, denser, longer-lasting concrete slabs that cost less to build and maintain.
It’s time for the industry to stop using 20th-century methods on 21st-century materials.
Every slab in America should be finished with GreenIce.
