NOTE: Keep in mind deductibles do not apply to liability auto insurance coverage, as that pays for damages incurred by another driver when you cause an accident. Rather, it would apply to coverage types that pay your damages, such as collision or comprehensive coverage.
Re: Poured side walk/steps, how long to leave forms? I strip the forms 24 hours later, but am careful not to damage the new concrete. It will still be very soft and with crumble if you put too much force on the edges. Usually concrete will harden withing 30 days to the point where it is considered cured.
Concrete first must be scoured clean with a concrete cleaning solution, a scrub brush or a cleaning machine, then allowed to dry before any etching takes place. Never clean a new concrete pad until at least one month of curing time has been allowed at minimum. After all the water has been removed, the pad should have at least 48 hours of drying time before you apply any etching to the surface. If the weather is particularly humid, wait up to 72 hours for best results. There are numerous types of etching materials available for use with concrete, but as a general rule, they only need 15 to 30 minutes of time on the surface of the concrete to work their way down through the initial layer and etch the surface.