How Long Does It Take for Concrete Sealer to Dry? (5 Helpful Facts!)
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How Long Does It Take for Concrete Sealer to Dry?
Are you wondering how long does it take for concrete sealer to dry? It is an important question and here is the short & sweet answer:
Concrete sealers take 1 – 2 hours to become touch dry. However, you must not drive or park on it for 24 – 48 hours after application of the final coat. You can walk on the freshly sealed concrete driveway 24 hours, though, after application of the final coat.
The drying time data of sealers curated from “Technical Data Sheet & Application Instructions” of Foundation Armor, a leading brand, is in the table below:
| Sealer Type | Touch Dry | Recoat Time | Foot Traffic | Wheel Traffic | Application Temp |
| Water Based Penetrating Sealer | 1 – 2 hrs | Wet on Wet | 12 – 24 hrs | 24 – 48 hrs | 45°F – 85°F |
| Water Based Topical Sealer | 1 – 2 hrs | 6 – 8 hrs | 24 hrs | 24 – 48 hrs | 45°F – 85°F |
| Solvent Based Penetrating Sealer | 1 – 2 hrs | 2 – 24 hrs | 12 – 24 hrs | 24 – 48 hrs | 45°F – 85°F |
| Solvent Based Topical Sealer | 1 – 2 hrs | 24 hrs | 24 hrs | 24 – 48 hrs | 45°F – 85°F |
LINKS:
Water Based Penetrating Sealer (Armor SX5000 WB Approved Silane Siloxane)
Water Based Topical Sealer (Armor WB25 Water Based High Gloss Acrylic Sealer)
Solvent Based Penetrating Sealer (Armor SX5000 DOT Approved Silane Siloxane)
Solvent Based Topical Sealer (Armor AR500 Wet Look/High Gloss Acrylic Sealer)
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
The Best Sealers for Your Concrete Driveway or Patio
A topical sealer is essential for protecting concrete surfaces from water permeation that can damage the concrete from within and compromise its lifespan.
I highly recommend Foundation Armor Concrete Sealers. Pick the one that best meets your aesthetic and application preference.
What Happens If You Walk on a Freshly Sealed Driveway?
The best time to seal concrete driveway is four weeks after pouring. Sealing should only be done after concrete has fully cured.
A freshly sealed concrete driveway is dry to the touch in a couple of hours, but it is not ready to be walked upon yet. You will leave footprints & scratches on the surface if you walked on it earlier than 12 – 24 hours after sealing.
Sealers, paints and coatings become touch dry pretty fast but take some time before they become hard dry. Any pressure on a sealer coat which is still wet will leave indentation marks. Sand & grit in footwear will also scratch the surface.
The glossy finish will be marred.
How Long After Sealing Concrete Driveway Can I Drive on It?
It is best to wait for at least 48 hours before you drive or park on a freshly sealed concrete driveway. Cars typically weigh upwards of 8000 lbs and will deform the sealer film.
Your concrete driveway will be ready for foot traffic, 24 hours after the final sealer coat application. However, it may still not be ready for vehicular traffic.
If the ambient temperature has been low, wait for 72 hours rather than 48 hours before you drive on the driveway.
Better to err on the side of caution!
Will Rain Hurt Newly Sealed Driveway?
Rain, within the first 24 hours of sealer application, will surely damage the newly sealed concrete driveway. In the worst case scenario the sealer coat can be completely washed away by hard rain.
At best, high humidity will delay the sealer curing and keep the film softer for longer. A soft sealer film is more prone to mechanical damages such as those falling branches or wayward animals.
You should be very mindful of the current and forecasted weather conditions when planning sealer application on your concrete driveway. The concrete must be dry (moisture content less than 6%) for good adhesion.
Plan the concrete sealer project for a cool but sunny day with no rain forecasted for the next 24 – 48 hours.
How Many Coats of Concrete Sealer Should I Use?
Always apply 2 coats of sealer on a concrete driveway. A significant part of the first coat gets absorbed by the unsealed concrete resulting in a non-uniform and patchy sealer film.
Only by the application of the second coat, a uniform and thick enough sealer film is formed. Adequate topical sealer film thickness is required to withstand the abrasive effect of car tires.
Please follow the recoat interval specified on the product label or data sheet for best intercoat adhesion and film thickness.
You may also want to check out my earlier post Pros and Cons of Sealing Concrete Driveway (The Ultimate Guide!).
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
