laying concrete foundations

[ianess]

How quickly does concrete dry out sufficiently to allow bricklaying to start on a firewall and dwarf walls for a conservatory?

My builder reckons on 2 days but poor weather is forecast. Does that make a difference?

[rekstout]

2 days for concrete footings to go off sounds about right - it has more to do with temperature than weather - in the current UK climate (cool and damp) 2 days sounds OK.  The problem is that it is impossible/impractical to lay bricks in heavy rain.

 

As an aside - it is not the drying that makes the concrete go hard but a reaction between the limestone clay and other chemicals the concrete is made of.  Portland cement will even set underwater as long as it is not disturbed.