Driveway sealer how long to let dry

Now sure how long to stay off the driveway after applying sealcoating? Here's what you need to know to make sure you don't mess up your sealcoat job. Share with a Friend. Leave a Comment. Get tips and tricks from the world of asphalt maintenance — sealcoating, line striping, crack repair and more — straight to your inbox. I'm ready to thrive. Different Types of Blacktop Sealers. Read Next: Related Articles. How to Make Money Sealcoating Driveways.

Get In Touch. Phone Email sales asphaltkingdom. However, we recommend giving it 48 hours, if possible, to be sure. If the weather is humid, cloudy, or cool, we recommend to give your asphalt an additional day to dry. Although your asphalt is dry within a couple days after applying sealer, it will take about 30 days to seal. This means within this day period, you want to treat your asphalt with care and avoid harsh chemicals or turning tires while a car is parked etc.

For business owners, the answer to this question may vary from the answer given to a homeowner. With a parking lot, there are many things to consider in addition to dry time like; traffic flow, restriping traffic markings , and closing off sections of a lot for extended periods of time.

The best time for applying sealer to an asphalt driveway is really based on preference. You must stay off a driveway during this time. Sunlight also makes it easier for the sealcoating crew to work. At night, a lack of light can severely hamper the pace at which the crews apply the sealcoat material.

Krieg, we do not offer sealcoating services at night. It is our professional opinion that sealcoating at night will not provide our customers with the highest quality finished product. Wind simultaneously offers benefits and problems for sealcoating crews. While breezy weather may help expedite drying time, it also can cause severe issues during the application of the material.

If winds gust above 10 miles per hour during the spraying process, the coating may get blown onto nearby vehicles or buildings, which can result in costly damage. Because we strive to give you the best service without causing harm to other parts of your property, Daniel B. Krieg, Inc. We will contact you to re-schedule your project for another day when the weather conditions are better.

You should allow at least hours for an asphalt sealcoat to dry. However, drying time varies based on the conditions of that particular day. Factors that impact the time it takes to completely dry include:. Always remember that patience is key to a strong sealcoat that will protect your asphalt surface for years to come. The conditions outside determine how well the sealcoat material cures. To understand why weather conditions are so crucial, you must know how the coating dries and cures.

First, curing and drying are not interchangeable. These separate processes must both happen for the sealcoating to perform as expected. Sealcoatings have a portion of their volume composed of water. For the curing process to occur, the coated surface must dry completely.

Despite being a liquid, the coating acts like a laminated surface with layers of differing moisture content after application. Once all these layers release their moisture, curing can happen. Because lower layers of water must move to the top, as the surface dries, finishing the process will take longer.

The majority of the moisture leaves the coating relatively quickly, but the final minor part of the moisture will need extra time to leave the sealcoating.

Drying occurs as moisture from the coating leaves the surface from top to bottom. As water evaporates from the top layers, more from the bottom drifts to the top to later get absorbed into the air. While drying will make the coating dry to the touch, the surface may still have a small percentage of water left in it , requiring additional curing time.

A dry surface may not attain the hardness from proper curing. You could track coating on your shoes or cause damage with vehicle tires if you open the area too quickly. Asphalt paving is an excellent option for parking lots. It is easy to install and kinder to the environment.

It is cheaper than concrete and yet, lasts for 20 to 30 years. Still, all the advantages of asphalt are accessible only with proper care. At the core of effective parking lot maintenance is asphalt sealcoating.

While the importance of sealcoating is undeniable, it does raise a few questions. How does it help with asphalt parking lot maintenance? When is the ideal time to apply it? More importantly, how long does it take for sealcoat to dry? To fully appreciate the impact of sealcoating in asphalt repair and maintenance, let us answer all these questions one by one.

Asphalt is porous by nature and susceptible to the elements. Moisture can seep into the spaces within the asphalt paving and cause premature deterioration. Even oils, excess grease, and gasoline dripping from vehicles can soften the asphalt.