Concrete sealer takes around 4 hours to dry between coats and 24 hours to cure (fully dry).
The exact dry time depends on the sealer type, surface type, temperature and humidity levels, and coat viscosity.
To speed up the concrete sealer dry time, increase the solvent evaporation rate, increase the air circulation, or use a paint dryer.
How Long Do Different Concrete Sealer Types Take to Dry?
The drying times for different concrete sealer types are listed below.
- Stamped Concrete Sealer takes around 4 hours to dry between coats and 3 days to cure.
- Eagle concrete sealer takes between 4-6 hours to dry between coats and 48 hours to cure (fully dry).
- Behr concrete sealer takes around 4 hours to dry between coats and 24 hours to cure (fully dry).
- Diamond Clear Concrete Sealer takes around 4 hours to dry to touch, 8 hours for light foot traffic, and 24 hours for heavy traffic.
- Driveaway concrete sealer takes between 2-4 hours to dry between coats and 24-48 hours to cure (fully dry).
How Long Does Concrete Sealer Take To Dry Between Coats?
Concrete sealer takes around 2 hours to dry between coats. The exact dry time depends on the sealer type, surface type, temperature and humidity levels, coat viscosity, and number of coats.
For instance, concrete sealer dries faster if you apply thin coats, the temperature is higher than 50°F (10°C), and the humidity levels are lower than 50%.
Concrete sealer dries through solvent evaporation — the solvent (oil or water) must evaporate from the surface and the coating must become hard (or rigid) to dry.
If you re-coat it too soon, the finish turns sticky or tacky and can peel off because the new sealer coating will prevent the existing coating solvent from evaporating.
How Long Does Concrete Sealer Take To Cure?
Concrete sealer takes around 3 days to cure (fully dry). The cure time refers to the time period it takes the finish to dry fully and reach its maximum durability, strength, and adhesion.
Once the sealer finish cures it creates a moisture-resistant coating that prevents water, moisture, and stain penetration and protects the surface from different elements.
If you expose uncured concrete sealer to constant water or moisture, the finish will take longer to dry and might peel off gradually.
How To Speed Up Concrete Sealer Dry Time?
To speed up concrete sealer dry time, do the following things.
- Increase the Solvent Evaporation Rate.
- Increase the Air Circulation.
- Use a Paint Dryer.
1. Increase the Solvent Evaporation Rate
Concrete sealer dries faster if you increase the solvent evaporation rate. The faster the solvent evaporates from the surface, the faster the concrete sealer coating dries.
To increase the solvent evaporation rate, increase the heat around the coating with a hairdryer or heater.
Here is a guide for this method:
- Plug in and turn on the hairdryer.
- Use the hairdryer or heater at medium temperature.
- Move the hairdryer over the sealer coating for 5 minutes — do this two times every 30 minutes.
- Keep the heater near the sealer coating.
- Allow the finish to dry itself.
2. Increase the Air Circulation
Concrete sealer dries faster if you increase the air circulation as the solvent (oil or water) evaporates faster. The more air circulates around the coating, the faster the solvent evaporates and the finish dries.
To increase the air circulation around the sealer coating, do the following things.
- Place air fans near the coating.
- Open all windows or doors.
- Increase the ventilation.
Increase the air circulation after the sealer coating becomes hard (or rigid). If the sealer coating is still wet, increasing the air circulation will increase dust or dirt that can contaminate the finish.
3. Use a Paint Dryer
A paint dryer is an additive that is mixed with paint (or sealer) and accelerates their dry or cure time. There are different paint dryer types, so use one that is compatible with concrete sealer.
To use the paint dryer agent, do the following things.
- Sprinkle the drying agent over the concrete sealer.
- Mix the drying agent and concrete sealer.
- Apply the mixture to the surface.
Ensure that the drying agent is compatible with concrete sealer, and don’t use too much of it. Concrete sealers require specific drying and curing time to achieve maximum durability and strength. If the sealer dries or cures too fast, it can affect the finish’s durability, strength, or quality.
